E-Commerce Giant Amazon Invests $700 Million to Retrain Workers

Yesterday e-commerce giant Amazon announced a plan to invest $700+ million over the next 6 years to retrain 100,000 employees of its U.S. workforce. The education will help workers move into more advanced roles across various segments of the company including corporate offices, tech hubs and fulfillment centers. Amazon’s goal is to improve the skills and know-how of a third of its U.S. employees for more in-demand jobs by 2025. They’re calling the plan “Upskilling 2025.”
A few concerns likely fuel Amazon’s investment–warehouse jobs are becoming more automated and humans are being phased out. The remaining jobs are becoming more technology-dependent. In particular, Amazon desires to retrain workers for positions such as data mapping specialist, data scientist, solutions architect and business analyst, as well as logistics coordinator, process improvement manager and transportation specialist. Based on a review of its workforce and the U.S. labor market, these are the fastest-growing highly skilled jobs over the past five years.
The funding will be distributed across both Amazon’s existing programs and new initiatives. This includes the new Amazon Technical Academy, which teaches non-technical Amazon employees skills that allow them to transition to software and engineering careers; the new Associate2Tech program that will train fulfillment center workers to move into technical roles; and the new Machine Learning University, to train those with tech backgrounds machine learning.
Amazon will also expand its Career Choice program. Launched in 2012, it offers pre-paid tuition to support associates who want to move into high-demand jobs; plus Amazon Apprenticeship, a Department of Labor certified program offering paid classroom training and on the job apprenticeships with Amazon; and its AWS Training and Certification programs focused on closing the skills gap.
“Through our continued investment in local communities in more than 40 states across the country, we have created tens of thousands of jobs in the U.S. in the past year alone,” said Beth Galetti, senior vice president, HR, in a statement released yesterday. “For us, creating these opportunities is just the beginning. While many of our employees want to build their careers here, for others it might be a stepping stone to different aspirations. We think it’s important to invest in our employees, and to help them gain new skills and create more professional options for themselves. With this pledge, we’re committing to support 100,000 Amazonians in getting the skills to make the next step in their careers,” she added. No doubt, that Amamzon’s highly skilled worker force with continue to improve the company’s omni channel retail capabilities.

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