Over the next six years Amazon will invest $700 million to retrain a third of its US workforce.
The training is voluntary and will expand upon Amazon's existing programs and initiatives. The goal is to help employees progress into more advanced jobs or take new positions outside of the company as the industry adapts to emerging technologies. According to CNN, the program, called Upskilling 2025, will be available to 100,000 workers by 2025.
In a time when automation and technology is taking over, Amazon is fighting for employees to be properly trained. The program can also help attract more employees because of future opportunities that they may not have been previously qualified for. CNN reports that the training also helps Amazon retain workers.
"Through its Upskilling 2025 pledge, Amazon is focused on creating pathways to careers in areas that will continue growing in years to come, including healthcare, machine learning, manufacturing, robotics, computer science, cloud computing and more," Amazon said in a statement
In addition to Upskilling 2025, Amazon is creating Amazon Apprenticeship, a paid intensive classroom training and on-the-job apprenticeships within the company.
"While many of our employees want to build their careers here, for others it might be a stepping stone to different aspirations," said Beth Galetti, Amazon's head of HR, in a prepared statement. "We think it's important to invest in our employees, and to help them gain new skills and create more professional options for themselves."