Skip to main content

GESMN + Google:

Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, is partnering with Goodwill Industries International (Goodwill) to grow the Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator program, which provides digital skills.

GESMN + Google: Increasing digital literacy

2019-06-18 13:11:00

Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, is partnering with Goodwill Industries International (Goodwill) to grow the Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator program, which provides digital skills. Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota (GESMN) will be integrating this in our curricula, which will help all participants to meet a range of needs from basic keyboarding to advanced computer programming, no matter what service they are receiving. The program will expand to 126 locations nationwide, including Minnesota, and is part of the Grow with Google initiative to provide digital skills to open doors for job seekers.

What is digital literacy?

  • “Digital skills” is an umbrella term that includes social media, internet safety, logging into a timeclock, apps on phones and computer software.
  • “Digital literacy” refers to an individual’s ability to leverage digital skills.

Why is digital literacy important?

  • Of the top 1,000 most cited skills and qualifications in Minnesota job postings, over half were digital skills or related to technology. (RealTime Talent)
  • 71% of jobs in the U.S. workforce require medium to high levels of digital skills; jobs that require low levels of digital skills are declining significantly. (Brookings Institute)
  • Jobs that demand lower digital skills pay less and are more at risk of being automized or eliminated.
  • There is a direct correlation with advanced digital skill and higher wages.

GESMN has been focused on digital literacy for years, and with this two-year grant from Google and a continued partnership with Minnesota Literary Council, even more people will be given the opportunity to learn these new skills and advance their careers.

Know anyone interested? Learn more about our programs at www.goodwilleasterseals.org/services.