PR97235

WASHINGTON, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

-- Generation has collaborated with The BlackRock Foundation, McKinsey &

Company, Microsoft Corp. and Verizon to successfully tackle global

unemployment, placing thousands of people into jobs that have generated more

than $140 million in salary income to date

Generation, the global nonprofit employment network, today announced that it

has surpassed the milestone of 25,000 graduates across 16 countries since the

start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, placing thousands of people into

jobs and bringing total graduates to 65,000 since it launched more than seven

years ago.

With the combined commitment of Generation's Global Jobs Recovery coalition –

The BlackRock Foundation, McKinsey & Company, Microsoft Corp., and Verizon –

the organization has trained, placed, and supported people of all ages into

careers that would otherwise be inaccessible. In these new jobs, the 25,000

pandemic graduates have together already earned more than $140 million in

salary income.

"We are thrilled to reach this milestone alongside our collaborators, and we

are inspired by the hard work and dedication of the thousands of individuals

who have transformed their lives through our programs during the pandemic,"

said Mona Mourshed, Founding Global CEO of Generation. "We have seen firsthand

how, even in remote environments, people can learn new skills, demonstrate

talents, and excel in the workplace. But truly inclusive employment still faces

many challenges, and we continue to work alongside employers, governments, and

practitioners to create opportunities for talented candidates of every race,

gender, ethnicity, and educational background."

Notably, while the majority of Generation's programs moved permanently to

online or blended delivery during the pandemic, results have remained strong.

74% of graduates have been placed in jobs within 3 months of program

completion, rising to 85% within 6 months. They earn 3-4 times the income they

had prior to Generation. At one year after job placement, 78% remain employed.

The individuals that Generation serves typically face a variety of challenges

before participating in the employment program. 40% have been unemployed for 6

months or longer. For 2020 graduates, only 38% of them report being able to

afford daily needs prior to the Generation program whereas 81% of them say they

can do so today. They are a diverse group as well. Two-thirds of this group of

pandemic graduates has only secondary school education or vocational training,

53% are female, the majority are from underrepresented communities where they

live, and more than 30% have dependents.

Per dollar of support Generation has received to date from the Global Jobs

Recovery coalition, these 25,000 graduates have generated $2.74 in earnings.

The organization expects these graduates to earn an additional $474.5 million

through 2027, which means that each dollar of philanthropic support to

Generation will have produced $11.85 in five-year earnings for this group.

In late 2020, Generation received a commitment of $77 million in new funding

and $50 million in in-kind resources over two years from BlackRock, McKinsey &

Company, Microsoft Corp., and Verizon, encompassing cash funding, in-kind

resources, and connections to employers in their ecosystems for Generation

graduates. To date, this support, alongside that of other national and local

funders, has enabled the significant expansion of Generation's collaboration

with governments and other workforce partners, globally, supporting the

embedding of Generation's approach within large-scale, existing systems.

Generation's work with its partners continues, and the organization expects to

have 20,000 graduates in 2022, growing from ~12,000 last year.

Nasira, Generation Graduate and Disability Support Worker, Royal Rehab AFEA

Care Services, said:

"When my son was born with Down syndrome, working was out of the question.

Shortly after, the pandemic hit, and I felt incredibly useless stuck at home.

In the depths of isolation, I received an email about Generation's disability

support worker program. The course was fully online – meaning I could complete

it around caring for my son. It changed the trajectory of family life forever,

providing me with the knowledge to monetise my nurturing tendencies and turn

them into a career."

Luciano, Generation Graduate and Programmer, Salesforce, said:

"Generation's facilitation of the digital economy and its mission to provide

opportunities for those most affected by the global pandemic is so powerful.

Covid's impact on commercial flights and the tourism industry meant that I lost

my job right at the start of the pandemic. Before Generation, I was not that

familiar with the world of programming , but guided by the placement team, I

very soon discovered it was a fascinating field with continuous challenges and

opportunities to learn, which very much matches my skill set."

Learn more at generation.org

SOURCE Generation