Workforce Development Programs

My field trip to the center of adult education: 🇺🇦 war veterans redefining new career path According to recent data, Ukraine needs 5 million more people to ensure economic stability. This week, I visited one of the Vocational and Technical Education Centers by the State Employment Agency of Ukraine. These specialized institutions train adults for the workforce through quick professional training and reskilling. In Rivne, far from the front lines, one of eight active centers educates up to 5,300 unemployed adults annually (down from 10,000 pre-war). The target groups include unemployed disadvantaged groups, internally displaced people, and increasingly, veterans. This center offers 58 reskilling programs, mostly lasting 3-6 months, working closely with employers for quick reintroduction into the labor market. I could write ten posts about what I saw and heard, but here are two highlights: 1. Fast-Track Course for War Veterans to Operate Agricultural Drones: I witnessed the field training of the first Ukrainian pilot course for war veterans to operate agricultural drones. The first group graduated with basic drone operation skills. Participants, coming from different regions and carrying various stages of post-war trauma, spent a week learning to program and operate agricultural drones, becoming a team in the process. Together with their educational coordinator, they now plan to do the course in entreprenership, write a business plan and apply for a governmental startup grant by Ministry of Economy of Ukraine to buy their first drones. Their goal is to motivate more veterans to join their company, offering drone services to local farmers for field monitoring and irrigation. 2. Women Entering Traditionally Male-Dominated Professions: For the first time, the center trained several female tractor drivers and welders. Women joined these programs out of necessity, as their husbands are in the army, leaving behind fields and machinery. There is VR welding simulators, that helps women to have smooth introduction and be more open to pursue this profession. Ca 90% of these course participants are already employed, demonstrating the program's need and impact. Cooperation potential is huge: 🚗 Equipment: Many newer functional cars and trucks were taken to the front lines, creating a desperate need to cooperate with business and automotive producers to rent equipment to keep training pace. 🌤 Rehabilitation: Beyond education, internally displaced people and veterans need additional modules on socialization, emotional support, and integration into society. 🔁 Knowledge exchange: practices are dynamic and can be a win-win for Ukrainian centres and partners from other countries. The dedicated team at the Center impressively tracks the latest technologies and implements quick, hands-on pilots. They recognize the importance of acting fast focusing on the economic growth but also care deeply for each student, to feel needed and useful in the society. #ukraine

Investing in your workforce is how you will be successful with AI. Organizations that are getting the most value from AI today aren't predicting use cases - they're discovering them. They're doing this by upskilling their employees and allowing them to experiment. These experiments are what's allowing them to discover the new, innovative AI use cases with high ROI. But enabling your workforce requires that you first get buy-in. Your workforce needs to understand the why- how using this technology will enable them to transform your business and create meaningful value for your customers. They need to understand what's in it for them. With AI, there's a lot in it for them: learning how to use AI is the best path towards career advancement. Similar to cloud, AI removes boring and mundane tasks, letting them focus on more interesting, creative, and high-value work. By allowing them to embrace AI, you're helping them engineer a better job for themselves and creating a more fulfilling job for them now and in the future.

Did you know that 756,384 working-age adults in Illinois currently lack a high school credential? This statistic isn't just a number—it's a call to action for us all during Advocacy April. Why? Because every individual empowered with education is a step toward a stronger, more resilient economy and a healthier, happier family life. Here’s how: 👨👩👧👦 Family Impact: Adults obtaining their high school credentials set a powerful example for their children, fostering a culture of learning and ambition. Education within the family can break the cycle of poverty and inspire the next generation. 💼 Economic Benefits: Educated workers are the backbone of our economy. They earn significantly more than those without a high school diploma, contributing to higher tax revenues and lower reliance on public assistance programs. This means more resources for community development, better services, and a stronger economy for Illinois. 🚀 Workforce Development: With a high school credential, individuals gain access to further education and training opportunities, filling skill gaps in our economy. This alignment between education and workforce needs is crucial for Illinois' competitiveness in a rapidly evolving job market. 💡 Innovation and Community Engagement: Educated individuals are more likely to engage in civic activities, volunteer, and contribute to societal innovation. Their diverse experiences and insights are invaluable to creating vibrant, inclusive communities. Let's advocate for and invest in adult basic education. It's an investment in our people, our economy, and our future. Together, we can transform this statistic into a story of success and empowerment for Illinois. #AdvocacyApril #AdultEducation #EconomicGrowth #FamilyEmpowerment #WorkforceDevelopment Coalition on Adult Basic Education Erin Vobornik

How does mentoring help young women forge meaningful careers in sustainability? 💚 Yesterday, I facilitated a check-in with our Catalyse Change CIC mentors, now halfway through our programme, supporting young women into sustainability and climate careers. It was a powerful space to reflect on what’s working, what’s challenging, and what makes mentoring transformational. 💚 A huge shout-out to our incredible Catalyse Change mentors! 🙏🏽 As their extraordinary generosity, care and thoughtfulness shone through! 💚 Here are 7 key insights and strategies they shared : 1. Normalising self-doubt and building confidence - Lack of confidence comes up again and again. Mentors found that normalising this - and sharing their own early-career doubts - helped mentees feel reassured and less alone. - Career growth was reframed as a series of small steps outside the comfort zone, rather than a single overwhelming leap.  2. Reflecting achievements back Mentors actively “held up the mirror,” reminding mentees of what they’ve already achieved, e.g., new roles, leadership courses, and personal growth. Making their strengths visible helped counter self-criticism and build a more positive self-view.  3. Challenging perfectionism and ‘A-grade only’ thinking Several mentors noted that high standards are becoming a blocker. By naming perfectionism directly and encouraging “good enough” and bite-sized goals, progress felt more achievable and less pressured. 4. Reframing sustainability  Mentors helped demystify sustainability by mapping existing skills - finance, engineering, communications, project management - into purpose-led roles. Breaking down jargon reduced anxiety and helped make green careers feel far more accessible. 5. Values-based work to address burnout and self-belief Revisiting core values revealed that wellbeing-protective values such as joy, rest, and balance weren’t being honoured. Setting goals aligned to values - not just performance - supported confidence and resilience in a much more sustainable way. 6. Small, safe steps into visibility  Rather than “big scary moves,” mentors encouraged manageable risks, paired with visioning exercises and perhaps a guiding word or mantra. This helps to create motivation without overwhelm. 7. Permission to change goals.  Making it clear from the outset that it’s ok to change or slow down their goals. Helps reduce shame and performance pressure, making them more willing to show up and try. The common threads? Normalising doubt. Making strengths visible. Shrinking the risk. And anchoring growth in values and well-being - not just output. The time, care and wisdom our voluntary mentors pour into our Catalyse Change CIC programme never fails to amaze me. It’s what makes this work so special and genuinely life-changing for the women involved. Thank you, mentors. We couldn’t do this without you! 🙏🏽 #Mentoring #GreenCareers #Sustainability Picture: Catalyse Change mentors and mentees at 2024 graduation.

Look, I get it. The business world is changing fast, and sometimes you need to "shift focus" to stay competitive. But here's an idea: instead of showing your loyal employees the door, why not invest in them? 1. It's cheaper in the long run: Sure, layoffs might seem like a quick fix for the bottom line, but have you considered the cost of hiring and training new people later? 2. You keep that institutional knowledge: Your employees know your company inside out. Why throw that away? 3. Morale boost: Nothing says "we value you" like investing in your people's growth. Happy employees = productive employees. It's not rocket science. 4. Adaptability: The market's always changing, right? Well, guess what? Employees who are used to learning new skills are way better at rolling with the punches. 5. Innovation: Fresh skills + existing expertise = a recipe for innovation. 6. Talent magnet: Word gets around. Be known as the company that invests in its people, and watch top talent flock to you. 7. Social responsibility: Let's face it, mass layoffs suck. Be a good corporate citizen and help your employees grow instead. 8. Future-proofing: The jobs of tomorrow don't even exist yet. Upskilling helps your company and your employees stay ahead of the curve. 9. Loyalty boost: Employees who feel invested in are more likely to stick around. Lower turnover = win for everyone. 10. It's just the right thing to do. So next time you're tempted to announce a round of layoffs, hit pause. Ask yourself: could we upskill instead? Your employees, your company, and your conscience will thank you. #UpskillDontLayoff #InvestInPeople #FutureOfWork #Jobs #Layoffs #Employers #Employees

Keep your workforce one step ahead of the competition. Technology is evolving. Customer expectations are shifting. Entire industries are being reshaped overnight. And yet many companies are still relying on yesterday’s skills to solve today’s problems. That’s where most businesses fall behind. But here’s what the best leaders are doing differently: They invest in their people before the gap shows up. Upskilling and reskilling your workforce is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s a competitive necessity. → Upskilling gives your team the ability to tackle new challenges head-on. → Reskilling creates agility so when the market changes, your people can adapt. → And when you do both, you unlock cross-functional synergy across departments. Think about it: What if your customer service team could use AI tools to cut response time by half? What if your marketing team understood data analytics to make faster, smarter decisions? What if your frontline staff were equipped to lead innovation from the ground up? People don’t leave companies that invest in their growth. They grow with them. If you want to future proof your business, start by future proofing your teams. 🎯 Build a culture of continuous learning. 🎯 Make skill development a business KPI. 🎯 Celebrate adaptability as much as achievement. Because in the long run, your people are your competitive edge. #Leadership #FutureOfWork #TeamGrowth #Upskilling

🇺🇦 Five steps toward improving the labor market: Government efforts in 2024. Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has been actively addressing labor market challenges in 2024 by implementing significant reforms, launching new initiatives, and collaborating with key stakeholders. Below are the five key steps taken to improve employment opportunities and enhance workforce development this year. 1️⃣ Legislative Overhaul: Drafting a New Labor Code One of the most critical initiatives this year was the drafting of a new labor code. This legislation eliminates discriminatory provisions, introduces eight types of employment contracts (including for remote and home-based work), and enhances employee protections. 2️⃣ Employee Exemption from Mobilization: A Critical Pillar of Economic Stability Employee exemptions are a critical condition for the effective functioning of the economy. I have consistently advocated for an efficient and well-functioning exemption system, as the economy cannot operate effectively without it. This year, we achieved several milestones: introducing the ability to process exemptions via the Diia portal, extending the exemption period for employees to up to one year, and removing restrictions on exempting workers with high-demand military occupational specialties. 3️⃣ Reform of Vocational Training Centers The State Employment Service initiated a large-scale reform of Vocational Training Centers (VTCs), making them more responsive to labor market demands. Employers now have a say in curriculum design through supervisory boards. The first VTC in Poltava has already partnered with leading companies like Нова пошта and Aurora Multimarket, enabling tailored workforce training. 4️⃣ Education and Reskilling Programs Addressing the critical shortage of skilled labor, the Ministry launched numerous reskilling programs, many of which focused on empowering women to enter traditionally male-dominated professions. Programs included training for welders, construction equipment operators, and security specialists. 5️⃣ Creating new working places thought support for Small and Microbusinesses Through grant programs like “Your Own Business,” veterans, their families, and entrepreneurs in conflict-affected areas received targeted support. New initiatives included grants for youth (up to UAH 150,000) and women in manufacturing businesses (up to $15,000 each). This year, the Government invested UAH 2.7 billion in small and medium-sized businesses, creating over 19,000 jobs. 6️⃣ Removing Barriers to Employment The Government continued wage compensation programs for employers hiring internally displaced persons (IDPs) and individuals with disabilities. Inclusive workplace initiatives led to the creation of 1,800 accessible jobs, supported by UAH 120 million in state reimbursements. I am deeply grateful to all the partners who collaborated with us in driving these impactful changes throughout 2024.

Most companies wait until they have an urgent problem before addressing workforce capability. But the ones building competitive advantage are investing in readiness before the gap becomes a crisis. Here are four areas where organizations need to focus: 𝟭. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼 Automation specialists, data scientists, and AI integration roles require new training pathways. Companies that build apprenticeship programs and internal development tracks get ahead of skills bottlenecks before they slow growth. 𝟮. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗔𝗜 It's not enough to deploy AI tools. Teams need to understand how to integrate AI into their workflows, manage AI-driven processes, and improve performance through human-AI collaboration. 𝟯. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Skills assessments show what people can actually do, not just what their job titles suggest. Companies that map capabilities across their workforce can redeploy talent strategically and keep people engaged in roles where they can grow. 𝟰. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱 Whether it's technical training, role-specific development, or management skills, companies need structured programs that prepare people for the work that's coming, not just the work that exists today. The retirement wave is gathering speed. Skills-based hiring is becoming the norm. Growth isn't waiting. What's your approach to workforce readiness right now?

Mentoring ranked towards the bottom of the Women in Leadership: Insights to Impact survey. Only 19% of the 410 women selected it as one of the factors having the most positive impact on their careers into leadership. And yet, mentoring is one of the most common diversity initiatives in New Zealand organisations. It's well-intentioned. It's popular. A lot of time, money and goodwill goes into building and running these programmes. But women themselves - when asked what's actually made the biggest difference to their careers - aren't putting it at the top of the list. What ranked higher? Sponsorship. And the difference between the two matters. A mentor gives advice. A mentor listens. A mentor guides. A mentor reflects back what they see in you. A sponsor gives opportunity. A sponsor puts your name in the room when you're not there. They shoulder-tap. They advocate. They use their influence on your behalf. But research consistently shows that men are more likely to be sponsored. Women are more likely to be mentored. So we're giving women advice. But not opening doors. 73% of respondents disagree or strongly disagree that a formal sponsorship programme exists for women in their organisation. If your organisation has invested heavily in mentoring programmes while formal sponsorship remains absent. Maybe you should be looking at that.

🚐 From ZIL Trucks to Mechatronics: Reflections from Field Visits in Ukraine 🗺️ We launched a series of regional visits across Ukraine to vocational education institutions and professional pre-higher education colleges preparing specialists for the transport sector. 📍 So far, we have visited Lviv, Zhytomyr, Kyiv region, and Dnipro. Next stops: Vinnytsia and Odesa. These visits are being conducted as part of a joint initiative of Helvetas and Volvo Group under the RECONOMY program, funded by Sweden. Three observations continue to stay with me: 🔧 1. The modernization challenge is even greater than I expected In some institutions, students are still learning vehicle repair using ZIL trucks from the Soviet era. At the same time, modern vehicles increasingly rely on electronics, diagnostic systems, automation, and mechatronics. What concerns me is not only the outdated equipment itself. It is the fact that public resources are still being invested in training that is often disconnected from today’s realities. And, perhaps even more importantly, young people are investing years of their lives into acquiring skills that may not provide them with meaningful employment opportunities. That is why every investment in modern equipment can make a real difference. 💡 2. The future of an institution depends heavily on its leadership One of the most inspiring discoveries has been meeting directors who think like entrepreneurs. Instead of relying solely on public funding, they actively build financial models that combine state resources, regional budgets, tuition fees, private sector partnerships, and international grants. In some cases, they have created training and practice centres that provide real services. Students gain practical experience, institutions generate additional income, and employers gain access to future talent. 🔄 3. Vocational education must become more flexible Short-term training programmes and partial qualifications can help businesses access specific skills faster while creating quicker pathways to employment. There is also a demographic reality we cannot ignore. Ukraine is facing a shrinking youth population and the continued displacement of many young people due to the war. Against the backdrop of the ongoing vocational education reform, this creates a serious challenge for many institutions. The traditional model of relying almost exclusively on full-time student enrolment is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. Institutions that successfully combine youth education with lifelong learning, reskilling, and upskilling opportunities will be much better positioned to demonstrate their relevance. Those that fail to adapt may ultimately face consolidation or closure as the education system continues to optimize its network. 🙏 I am sincerely grateful to the VET schools we visited for their hospitality and insightful tours. #VocationalEducation #WorkforceDevelopment #Transport Anastasiia Serhii Helvetas Eastern Europe