FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SkillSmart and Saylor Academy Announce Skills-Based Training Partnership
Joint effort to reduce the skills gap by equipping job seekers with skills matched to in-demand jobs
Germantown, MD – April 20, 2016 – SkillSmart and Saylor Academy announced today that they are partnering to accelerate skills-based learning and employment opportunities. Together, SkillSmart’s skills matching algorithm and Saylor Academy’s cost-effective training platform will streamline the pathway from education to employment for job seekers.
Ninety percent of employers believe that graduates lack the skills they need, while nearly 50 percent of recent college graduates are unemployed or underemployed and saddled with significant debt, according to recent reports from the Hay Group and the New York Federal Reserve. Recognizing that matching skills to employment opportunities yields the most successful workforce outcomes, SkillSmart will direct job seekers to Saylor Academy for courses and training opportunities that build the skillsets needed for specific job opportunities. The students of Saylor Academy will use the SkillSmart platform to identify and apply to employment opportunities relevant to the skills and credentials they’ve earned.
“We’re happy to introduce this new partnership with Saylor Academy; it enables job seekers using SkillSmart to more easily find valuable courses at virtually no cost,” said Mike Knapp, CEO of SkillSmart. “Together we will continue to address the workforce skills gap and create a more talented workforce.”
SkillSmart is committed to empowering individuals and employers to maximize their potential by identifying and matching the skills necessary for success. Saylor Academy is dedicated to maintaining open access to learning opportunities while reducing the cost of training and education that provide requisite credentials for the workforce.
The SkillSmart/Saylor Academy partnership has begun benefiting both employers and job seekers in the greater National Harbor, MD region. Currently, several job openings at MGM Resorts National Harbor, hosted on the SkillSmart platform, require skills that can be obtained via Saylor Academy’s courses in business, finance, accounting and human resources.
“Through this partnership, job seekers will be able to develop the skills that are in demand through Saylor Academy, and our students will be able to match to viable employment opportunities,” said Jeff Davidson, Director of Strategic Relationships for Saylor Academy. “Open Education Resources like our courses can be deployed to address skills gaps in many sectors, we just need employers and funders to come together to make it happen,” he added.
Users can log on or create a SkillSmart profile at mgmresorts.skillsmart.us to review open opportunities and available training.
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For more information, jgreen@skillsmart.us, (240) 498-4492.
About SkillSmart
SkillSmart addresses the skills gap by transforming the talent development pipeline. By using skills to connect employers, job seekers, and educators, SkillSmart creates the transparency to match qualified applicants to employment opportunities and create a qualified talent pipeline. SkillSmart helps job seekers become better qualified through the understanding of the skills they have and the skills they need for certain positions. For employers, SkillSmart helps them identify new talent, and nurture and grow existing talent. For educators, SkillSmart helps them develop curriculum that meets the in-demand skills needs of regional industries. For more information about SkillSmart, visit the company’s website at skillsmart.wpengine.com.
About Saylor Academy
The Saylor Academy is a nonprofit academy that provides tuition-free courses fully online. Individuals can start whenever they want, work at their own pace and earn free certificates for all courses and tuition-free college credit for select courses. Saylor Academy’s mission is to provide educational resources, learning technologies, and open access to credentials and other learning opportunities. For more information about Saylor Academy, visit the website at www.saylor.org.
