An April 2026 U.S. Department of Labor announcement of a national contracting opportunity to integrate artificial intelligence skills into Registered Apprenticeship programs. The Employment and Training Administration initiative seeks to expand AI-related training, modernize apprenticeship programs, and build AI literacy and technical skills across industries, aligning with the department's AI Literacy Framework and the Make America AI-Ready initiative.
Why I recommend it: If you want to move into AI-adjacent work without a four-year degree, Registered Apprenticeships are one of the few earn-while-you-learn paths, and this initiative is the signal that AI skills are now part of that pipeline. Watch your state's apprenticeship sponsor list for AI-related openings.
DeepLearning.AI's weekly newsletter. This issue introduces Andrew Ng's AI Engineering Skills Map, plus news on Meta, Google robotics and MiniMax's open video model.
Why I recommend it: Useful for mapping which AI engineering skills to learn next. DeepLearning.AI sells courses, so the skills map points toward its own catalog.
IBM Institute for Business Value survey of 1,500 chief HR officers and 8,800 employees worldwide, published 21 September 2026. 71% of CHROs call the ability to supervise, validate and override AI outputs the workforce's most essential skill, while only 29% of employees rank judgment as important. 60% of employees worry AI is eroding their skills, naming critical thinking most often; three in four of those say the erosion has already begun. CHROs name critical thinking (57%) and human judgment (48%) among the most important capabilities. 46% of organisations leave the CHRO out of AI strategy entirely.
Why I recommend it: The one number to take into an interview or a performance review: employers say the skill they now value most is checking and overruling the machine, and most employees have not caught up. That gap is your opening — say out loud that you review AI output rather than forward it. Read the rest carefully. This is IBM's own survey, run by IBM's consulting arm, and IBM sells the AI systems and the workforce redesign advice the study concludes you need; the free press release gives the figures, while the full report asks for your details. The 18% risk reduction and 20% quality improvement are self-reported by the companies surveyed, not measured by anyone independent, and 'employees worry their skills are eroding' is how people feel, not a test of whether their skills actually declined.
#ai#critical thinking#future of work#hr#job markets#judgment#research#skills#survey#upskilling#workforce
Hosseinioun and colleagues use US survey and resume data to show skills sit in a nested order — some can only be learned once others are in place — and link that structure to wage gaps and long-term wage penalties after job loss.
Why I recommend it: Open access, so the full paper is free — no library login needed. The useful takeaway for career work: skill order matters. Learning a foundation skill first opens more later moves than stacking another surface skill, and the paper shows why some people recover from a layoff faster than others.
A free online jeopardy-style capture-the-flag run by Cyber Hacktics with U.S. Air Force veterans for Cybersecurity Awareness Month. 17 October 2026, 14:00 UTC to 19 October 2026, 00:00 UTC.
From the site: DEADFACE CTF features jeopardy-style challenges and is hosted by Cyber Hacktics and veterans of the United States Air...
Details: Beginner-friendly as CTFs go, and a real thing to point at in an interview. Free to play.
Published research and analysis on education, skills and workforce markets from HolonIQ, including global market reports and outlook pieces.
From the site: Published research and analysis on education, skills and workforce markets.
Why I recommend it: The research pages are free to read, though HolonIQ sells paid intelligence products — treat the reports as vendor research and check who funded any figure you plan to quote.
Andrew Ng on the skills that let a developer shape what gets built, not just implement someone else's spec: driving the build loop, product decisions, communication and high-agency ownership.
Why I recommend it: A clear answer to "what should I actually learn next" in AI work.
A free conversation with Veronica Salcido of GrowthAssistant on hiring for durable skills that outlast specific tools, and what that means for how candidates present themselves.
Why I recommend it: Hear how a hiring leader actually judges candidates, then mirror that language in your applications.
Guide to choosing and phrasing resume skills, with examples of hard and soft skills employers actually screen for.
Why I recommend it: Use this to cut the generic skills list most resumes carry. Keep only skills you can back up with a story from your last three roles.
A guided system where AI builders share insights, contribute projects, evaluate real-world impact, and amplify practical skills alongside an AI mentor.
Why I recommend it: I like the emphasis on building and evaluating impact rather than just consuming AI news. Useful if you want to move from "AI curious" to "AI capable."
A nonprofit research institute that translates labor-market data into insights about skills, mobility, and the future of work.
Why I recommend it: Burning Glass turns labor-market data into actionable insight about which skills are in demand and who is getting left behind. I cite their research often.
Free Google tool that maps your experience to possible career paths and the skills each one needs.
In plain terms: This free tool uses artificial intelligence to analyze your work experience and skills. You can use it to discover new career paths and see what skills you need for them.
From the site: An AI-powered tool to help you uncover career potential and analyze your skills to suggest new career paths.
Why I recommend it: Use this when you cannot name what you want next. It turns a vague feeling into job titles you can research.
Free virtual job simulations from major employers that show you what the work actually looks like.
In plain terms: This platform offers free, self-paced virtual job simulations created by top employers. You can complete realistic workplace tasks, explore different careers, and earn certificates to add to your resume.
From the site: Use Forage job simulations to build skills and learn about roles in data, engineering, investment banking and more at companies like JPMorgan, BCG, and Red Bull.
Why I recommend it: Finish one and name it in your interview. It shows initiative and gives you specifics to talk about.
Free skill-building courses and certificate prep from Google.
In plain terms: This website offers flexible online training and certificate programs in fields like IT, data analytics, and cybersecurity. You can take self-paced courses to learn practical AI skills, prepare for interviews, and qualify for entry-level jobs.
From the site: Grow your career or business and gain essential AI Skills with Google Career Certificates or other online courses and trainings from Grow with Google.
Why I recommend it: A low-risk way to test whether a new field actually interests you.
