Overview

In 2022, Google.org (Google’s philanthropy) awarded a $10 million grant to AARP Foundation to support free technology trainings to people with low-income, age 50+, focusing especially on women and people of color. The trainings focus on digital essentials to help job seekers find and secure jobs, change careers, or explore entrepreneurship. The programs have been developed over two years in eight states:

• Arizona
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Louisiana
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Texas.

AARP Foundation and Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) develop the trainings that are implemented through community organization partners and that use OATS’ Senior Planet instructors. Trainings began in March 2022.

AARP Foundation is evaluating the economic impact of the initiative and creating a scalable model to help expand the program nationally.

Background

The project was initiated when millions of older adults faced financial hardship, many as a result of losing their jobs or income during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Urban Institute, older workers with more digital skills have significantly higher earnings than those with less and are better positioned to compete for the jobs of the future. However, 2 in 5 adults 50+ feel technology is not inclusive, nor designed for people of all ages, as reported in AARP’s 2022 Tech Trends Report.  The OATS’ Aging Connected report found that more than 22 million Americans age 65+ lack wireline broadband access at home, keeping them disconnected from critical online resources like telehealth, social support and communications.

Partners

• AARP Foundation, in collaboration with its charitable affiliate, Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), provides programs and services that offer older adults foundational online workplace skills such as how to use video conferencing, information security, and office productivity software; online job readiness and networking tools; and learning tools for aspiring entrepreneurs, such as social media marketing, crowdfunding, mobile payment services, and graphic design.
• Google.org is Google's philanthropy. It supports nonprofits that address humanitarian issues and apply scalable, data-driven innovation to solving the world's biggest challenges. Google has historically supported digital skilling through Grow with Google, the company's initiative helping people grow their skills, careers and businesses through free tools and training.

References

Press Release: Google.org Announces $10 Million Grant to AARP Foundation to Train Older, Lower-Income Adults in Digital Skills for Economic Security

https://www.urban.org/research/publication/digital-skills-and-older-workers/view/full_report

https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/technology/info-2022/2022-technology-trends-older-americans.html?cmp=RDRCT-00971e38-20210910

https://oats.org/aging-connected-press-release/