SkillUp Wrapped: Celebrating 2024 Learnings and Milestones

As we close out 2024, we are so grateful for and proud of all SkillUp has accomplished this year.?

Together with you — our incredible partners, supporters and community members — we are evolving workforce inclusion for workers skilled through alternative routes (STARs). This has been a year of growth, innovation and impact as we’ve doubled down on our mission to provide career pathways and opportunities for job seekers across the nation.

SkillUp made strides in expanding resources, forming transformative partnerships and delivering groundbreaking tools to empower job seekers nationwide. From the success of our remote jobs catalog to surpassing 3 million users served, every milestone reflects our shared mission to create lasting change through access to high-opportunity and quality employment.

Thank you for standing with us as we work to empower workers, create access to training and forge a future where everyone can achieve economic mobility. We’ve paved the way for an even brighter 2025 — and we couldn’t have done it without you!

Let’s take a moment to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of this year.

Impact Partnerships??

SkillUp’s partnerships are the heart and soul of our efforts and success. In 2024, our partners supported delivery of the following innovative solutions and powerful resources for job seekers nationwide:?

• Increasing remote opportunities for job seekers: In partnership with Truist Foundation and GitLab Foundation , SkillUp expanded its remote job catalog, enabling us to feature tens of thousands of high-quality, remote job opportunities throughout the country.?

• Inspiring youth to rethink career paths: With collaboration from partners such as the Schultz Family Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation , we’re providing young job seekers with pathways and options for those who may not follow traditional college routes.
• Creating deeper connections with job seekers: SkillUp and InsideTrack delivered career coaching to thousands of individuals while a new partnership with Empower Work pilots one-on-one text-based advising opportunities to SkillUp users.
• Guiding SkillUp users with generative AI: SkillUp is developing an AI coaching tool to provide job seekers with more personalized guidance and the same quality standards they have grown to trust from SkillUp. We just wrapped a 500-user pilot test in partnership with AdeptID and Brighthive and can’t wait to unveil more soon!

These initiatives demonstrate our collective commitment to fostering innovation and accessibility. Stay tuned as we continue to explore bold new ways to work with partners at scale, and serve even more communities in 2025.?

From groundbreaking research to celebrating partnerships that drive economic mobility, 2024 was full of exciting milestones for SkillUp and its users. Here are some additional standout highlights from our content and innovative partnerships:

• User-Powered STARs Career Journey Insights: SkillUp unveiled longitudinal data from its one-of-a-kind pulse survey, sharing invaluable training and career journey insights from workers across the nation.?
• Atlanta Federal Reserve Data Partnership — Worker Insights: SkillUp joined forces with the Atlanta Federal Reserve to elevate worker insights. This collaboration not only spotlighted the critical voices of workers but also empowered data-driven decision-making to address workforce challenges.
• Eastern Kentucky SOAR EDA Partnership: Chosen from over 500 applicants nationwide, SkillUp was one of the 22 grant finalists selected for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Recompete Plan in recognition of our collaboration with Shaping Our Appalachian Region, Inc. (SOAR) to support coal-impacted communities in Eastern Kentucky.

Additionally, we expanded our regional reach this year by launching new SkillUp sites in Houston, Miami, Boston, Inland Empire, Seattle, Minneapolis, San Diego, Baltimore, West Michigan, San Antonio, Portland and — launching today in our Top 25th MSA — St. Louis. We expect to add 15+ additional regions in 2025!

What SkillUp Users Loved in 2024

What did SkillUp users explore, learn and achieve throughout the year? From finding the right career paths to landing dream jobs, here’s a glimpse of what truly motivates STARs and resonates most with our community:

Top 5 Reasons for Coming to SkillUp

1. Find a Remote Job
2. Compare Training Programs
3. Learn About Growing Careers
4. Find an In-Person Job
5. Take a Career Quiz

Top 3 Training Programs

1. IT Support Professional - Merit America
2. Apprenti Software Test Manager Apprenticeship
3. Full Stack Java Developer - Per Scholas

Top 3 Career Interests

1. Medical Records Specialists
2. Computer User Support Specialists
3. Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Top 5 Companies for Remote Job Applications (as featured in SkillUp Remote Jobs Catalog)

1. CVS Health
2. United Health
3. State Farm
4. CSAA Insurance
5. Allegis Group

This year, SkillUp's resources provided critical support and tools for STARs, helping individuals navigate their career journeys with confidence. Check out our top 5 standout content resources for STARs:

1. Comprehensive Guide to Earn and Learn Programs & Jobs
2. The Benefits of Apprenticeships
3. 23 Careers in High Demand in the U.S.
4. How to Get a Remote Job
5. Career Exploration for Students & Young Adults

Our career coaching resources offered STARs practical guidance and expert advice. Here are the top three career coaching sessions that resonated most in 2024:

1. Using Your Existing Skills and Strengths to Launch Your Careers
2. Find Your Dream Job Without Sacrificing Your Mental Health
3. Ace the Interview: Navigating Common Interview Questions

Top Conversations from the Field

Last week, SkillUp hosted the webinar Unlocking Workforce Potential with Inclusive and Human-Centered AI. We brought together industry leaders and workforce innovators from the Gates Foundation , Jobs for the Future (JFF) and MDRC to explore how AI can and should be designed and implemented to support equitable opportunities for STARs.

The conversation delved into the importance of AI literacy, why AI tools should be rigorously evaluated for impact, how funders think about supporting inclusive and scalable generative AI projects, and how we collectively can support equitable AI adoption across organizations and populations.?

Thank you to everyone who joined us! If you missed out, don’t worry! The recording is available for you here.

At SkillUp, we are driven by the incredible stories of workers who have transformed their careers and lives through our resources and services. Their inspiring voices remind us of the resilience and determination that fuels our STARs community:

What’s Next?

This has been a year with incredible milestones, transformative partnerships and so much support from and for our SkillUp community. We are reminded of the power of collective impact, from connecting job seekers with critical career resources to championing workers across industries.?

Looking ahead to 2025, we’re excited to partner with you to tackle new challenges and achieve more significant milestones. We’re grateful to everyone who has joined us on this journey. Together we’ll continue to create meaningful pathways for workers to thrive and succeed.

More from SkillUp:

• Sign up to learn more and stay connected with the team at https://skillup.org/.

Recent Resources for STARs:

• How to Develop Leadership Skills & Shine in Any Role
• 11 Steps to Achieve Your Professional Goals
• 13 Skills You Can Learn Online for Free to Advance Your Career
• 21 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Career
• Explore Careers in Portland, Oregon - Find High-Demand Jobs and Affordable Training
• Support for Over 55 Late-Life Career Changes
• Coaching Tips: Find Remote Work
• Coaching Tips: Online Learning