CWI Labs launches the Digital Competency Certification Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CWI LABS TO EQUIP 30,000 OLDER WORKERS OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS WITH ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR THE DIGITAL WORKPLACE
CWI Labs, in collaboration with its sister organization, the Center for Workforce Inclusion, is proud to announce its commitment to empower 30,000 older workers with the skills they need to succeed in a hybrid workplace. At the core of this commitment is the launch of the Digital Competency Certification Program (DCP), a one-of-its-kind training program that focuses on remote and hybrid working skills while simultaneously combating ageism.
“Nearly 75% of U.S. companies are using or plan to implement a permanent hybrid work model,” said Gary A. Officer, Founder & CEO. “Yet, older adults, who will comprise 1 in 4 workers by 2024, have the fewest opportunities to reskill or upskill to meet the demands of our new world of work.”
More than 40% of older Americans are looking for a job. However, older workers often lack upskilling opportunities to prepare for in-demand employment opportunities due to inadequate training options and loss of employment due to automation. They also face the misconception that they cannot thrive in a digital workplace. Two-thirds of older adults seeking employment cite age discrimination as a challenge to finding work. DCP addresses each of these challenges head-on through a unique curriculum that goes beyond technology platforms to train on the soft skills unique to a digital workplace.
“Not only have we seen tremendous interest from job seekers to take the DCP program,” said Melissa Flynn, Chief of Staff. “We have also seen their passion turn into success with 66% of the job seekers in our concept pilot successfully attaining employment as administrative assistants, customer service representatives and schedulers.”
The DCP curriculum includes 60 hours of live, virtual class sessions, independent self-guided instruction, and partnership with a career coach. Job seekers receive hands-on instruction for the most popular remote collaboration tools: Zoom, Google Workspace, Microsoft Project, and Teams. More importantly, DCP job seekers learn the communication, productivity, team building, and customer service skills that are essential to success in a digital workplace.
