Why We’ve Committed $100 Million to Closing the U.S. Digital Skills Gap

We’re living through a time of increasingly rapid innovation across many domains. People are using technology and data in ways never before possible to create new companies and entirely new industries. Central to our ability to capitalize on this opportunity is access to a highly-skilled, technically literate workforce. 

Yet there are far more open jobs for technical talent in the U.S. today then there are trained workers to fill them, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And recent data from the National Student Clearinghouse (an education data firm) shows that the number of college students completing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) degrees has barely increased over the past decade.  

As a result, America is falling behind in developing a sustainable technology-skilled workforce. And over time that could weaken the country’s GDP growth and standing in the global economy. 

Thriving in the Digital Era

Recognizing how often technological progress leaves some people behind, we’ve long believed in our obligation to enable a broader range of people to have the STEM education they need to understand and thrive in today’s digital era. That’s why we spend tens of millions of dollars each year to keep our workforce at Cognizant up to date with the latest skills and technologies.

But we know we must do much more than that. Our company’s training and skills initiatives focus on helping Americans of diverse backgrounds through no-cost training centers across the country. This investment provides them with the skills needed for tomorrow’s careers and sets a foundation for them to become lifelong learners of their trade.

Along with investments like these, the country needs more cooperation between local and federal government, and between public and private institutions. By engaging with regional employers to discuss marketplace needs, public-private partnerships can help employers large and small have greater access to a talent pipeline.

Launching Cognizant U.S. Foundation

To augment our company’s global STEM education efforts, we launched the Cognizant U.S. Foundation in May. Its aim is to empower digital education and skills training initiatives across the U.S. for students, veterans, and professionals already in the workforce.

In forming the Foundation, Cognizant has committed $100 million to this important cause. The goal is to set a new benchmark for what’s possible when public, private, and state enterprises join to support workforce development and retraining.

For more than a decade, we’ve been focusing on building STEM education and skills.

And not just for our own associates, but also for a broader range of people around the world, in keeping with our belief that the digital economy should create opportunities for everyone.  

Expanding Job Opportunities

Today the scarcest resource is human ability. By helping to close the technology skills gap, we hope to reinvigorate and expand job opportunities for Americans, and ultimately strengthen American businesses.

The Cognizant U.S. Foundation is eager to support organizations that are aligned with our mission of closing the STEM skills gap. If your organization wants to be considered for a grant award, please visit: https://cognizantusfoundation.org/