In October of 2020, Verizon pledged to invest more than $44 million to support free technology-focused career training programs that enable 500,000 people to build skills that prepare them for jobs of the future. As part of that goal, Verizon is trying to build the foundation to connect 10 million young people with digital skills training by 2030. Most of the funding will be used to expand partner Generation’s online tech training program, with the goal of rolling it out to 26 cities by the end of 2022.
The training program, designed for workers who are unemployed, underemployed, facing job displacement due to automation, or challenged in other ways by the pandemic, focuses on members of populations that have faced systemic barriers to building family-supporting careers. Priority will go to Black and Latinx applicants, women of all backgrounds, and anyone who does not have a four-year degree. The online programs will give thousands of Americans who are most in need of developing new skills the opportunity to take part in technical training and career development programs that many have not had access to in the past.