Digital Certification Program

The Digital Workplace

Digital skills are now required across the full span of labor market opportunities, ranging from entry-level call center workers to sophisticated information technology roles. Even amongst low-skill jobs, 75% of postings are in digital occupations, increasing to 85% of middle-skill jobs and 83% of high-skill jobs. Compounding this challenge is the pivot to the remote and hybrid workforce. Seventy-four percent of U.S. companies are using or plan to implement a permanent hybrid work model.

Unlocking The Digital Workplace

Most of the projected increase in the labor force over the next 30 years will consist of older workers, specifically women 55 and older. These are the same job seekers who have the fewest opportunities to acquire in-demand digital skills:

Inadequate training options: Approximately 90% of workforce development programs provide services to students and younger adults, leaving only 10% to address the needs of adults age 50+.
Age-related bias: Sixty-percent (60%) of older workers would like to return to the workforce but are unable to break through the stereotypes associated with ageism.
The shift to artificial intelligence: Older workers are 67% more likely to be drawn to jobs with a high risk of automation than Millennials leading them toward layoffs rather than upskilling.

Our Digital Certification Program

CWI Labs is confronting the systemic inequities related to age, gender, and race by developing solutions that address the needs of the job seekers and the skill requirements of local economies. One of the cornerstones of our current work is addressing the bias related to age and technology – that older job seeker doesn’t know and/or are unable to learn the technology of today. A recent study by the National Skills Coalition shows that across all industries 92% of jobs now require digital skills

We are directly confronting this myth with a unique program to train and certify that our job seekers are digitally literate for a remote and hybrid workplace through our Digital Certification Program (DCP). DCP is a one-of-its-kind training program with a curriculum that goes beyond technology platforms to train on the soft skills unique to a remote and hybrid workplace. DCP simultaneously combats ageism by directly refuting two myths holding older workers back from equitable economic opportunity – that they are not digitally savvy and that they do not want to learn digital skills.

The core components of the program are:

30 Hours: Thirty hours of live, instructor-led, remote interactive classes to help the job seekers master the skills needed in any work environment
Soft Skills: In addition to the technical side of digital skills, the program includes interactive small group scenario-based learning related to customer service and team building
Self-Guided Instruction: Job seekers work with their job coach and workforce development staff to complete 10 hours of assignments between classes that will help solidify learnings from the live instructors
Workforce Preparation Coaching: Job coaching will help our clients to identify jobs, use networks and social media as search tools, market their own skills, understand employer expectations, write resumes and cover letters, and practice mock interviews

66% of the job seekers in our concept pilot successfully attained employment

Support Digital Inclusion

CWI Labs seeks collaborators and partners who share our desire to provide innovative workforce development solutions. Our goal is to institute the DCP program with our 60 non-profit partners in 13 states, while building partnerships in 36 additional states. We believe our cutting-edge strategies will provide greater outcomes and opportunities for job seekers to secure living wage employment and contribute to the vitality of local businesses and community development. Join us today!