The Center for Workforce Inclusion Announces Strategic Partnership with Coursera to Empower Older Adults with Essential Skills Training
The Center for Workforce Inclusion (Center), the only national organization dedicated exclusively to the workforce development needs of older workers, proudly announces a collaborative venture with Coursera, one of the largest online learning platforms in the world. This partnership will provide curated course libraries to older job seekers nationwide, addressing the pressing need for critical skills training in an evolving job market.
Older workers are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. workforce. By 2028, over one-quarter of the U.S. labor force will be 55 or older. Recognizing the urgency of enhancing the skills of this demographic, the Center and Coursera are partnering to bridge the workforce development gap.
Gary A. Officer, President & CEO of the Center, emphasized the significance of this collaboration by highlighting the current inadequacy in workforce development spending, stating, “The U.S. allocates less than 0.1% of its GDP to workforce development, ranking it nearly last among the 35 largest global economies. Our partnership with Coursera is a strategic initiative to address this shortfall and empower our older workforce.”
The partnership will begin with a pilot program, where Center job seekers will gain exclusive access to two curated catalogs of courses. Each catalog will be tailor-made to complement the Center’s existing training programs, focusing on enhancing the digital and job search skills necessary to secure employment in today’s job market.
Ann Manby, Chief Workforce Development Officer at the Center, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “Coursera’s innovative approach of flexible and job-relevant online learning is a perfect fit for our programming model. Together, we will expand the opportunities we offer older job seekers to acquire the skills they need to succeed in the modern workplace.”
The Center and Coursera will launch the pilot program later this year.
Media Contact: media@workforceinclusion.org
About Coursera
Coursera partners with more than 275 leading universities and companies to bring flexible, affordable, job-relevant online learning to individuals and organizations worldwide. Coursera offers a range of learning opportunities—from hands-on projects and courses to job-ready certificates and degree programs. To learn more, please visit www.coursera.org.