Amazon Upskilling

2025 Report
DECEMBER 2020

PROVIDING SKILLS TR AINING AND

UPSKILLING PROGRAMS TO HELP

ADULT LEARNERS AND EMPLOYEES

ADVANCE IN THEIR CAREERS

Contents

03 Expanding our commitments

04 Upskilling the American workforce
for a post-pandemic economy

05 Workforce programs for the public

15 Programs for Amazon employees

2 AMAZON UPSKILLING 2025 REPORT

 Expanding our commitments
Beth Galetti

O
Senior Vice President
of Human Resources ver the past year, the shape of the global workforce has dramatically changed. The
pandemic has upended entire industries, and everything from how work gets done to where
it gets done has been turned on its head. These profound changes will require many workers
around the world to reimagine their careers or further hone their technical skills to stay
current with fast-changing technology shifts. As part of our efforts to continue supporting
communities around the world, we’re expanding our commitment to technical skills
29 million people trained for beyond our own employees – we are pledging to provide free skills training to 29
free by 2025 worldwide million people globally by 2025.

To get to 29 million, we will expand existing AWS-designed programs and pilot new programs to meet
emerging training needs. These programs emphasize cloud computing training programs, and the reason for
Programs available in 200+ this is simple: the need for people with the right skills to take on cloud computing and other technical roles
countries and territories
continues to grow. That need has become more apparent this year as schools, businesses, and governments
have relied on the cloud to keep their organizations running.
This external goal builds on our previously announced pledge to upskill our own employees. In July 2019 we
In 2019, we committed
$700 million to train launched Upskilling 2025, our pledge to invest $700 million to provide skills training to 100,000 Amazon
100,000 employees by 2025 employees in the U.S. by 2025 so they could access in-demand jobs. Amazon now employs more than 800,000
people in the U.S. – there is no other company that has created as many jobs as Amazon over the last decade.
We know that as a leading U.S. employer we have an important role to play in providing employees with
access to the education and training they need to grow and re-invent their careers.
In this report you’ll find an overview of these free training programs and a progress update on our Upskilling
2025 pledge to support our employees. We’ve also captured stories of people who have benefitted from
these programs.
Whether you’re considering a new career or just looking to learn something new, I hope you’ll be inspired to
take action.
—Beth

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Upskilling the American workforce for a post-pandemic economy

A new study of U.S. workers from Accenture shows the impact that skills training can have to unlock
new and higher-income careers.

1 in 3 American workers has the potential to access higher income occupations that are
forecasted to grow in the future, if provided with access to training for new skills.

Technical skills are twice as likely to be associated with high-income occupations

compared to other skills.

The biggest barriers for people remain lack of access to transportation and childcare as
well as constrained schedules—all of which are statistically correlated. They often overlap,
creating a trifecta of daily life difficulties for workers.

66% of workers feel broadly supported by their employer. Yet only half of those agreed
that their employer provides additional training/skilling opportunities, and even fewer—
one in four—reported that their employer sponsors educational or outside training
opportunities they want to pursue.

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Workforce programs
for the public
Free AWS-designed training programs Quick guide to our
program offerings
We’re in the middle of a massive shift to the cloud. According to Gartner, worldwide cloud
industry spending is expected to grow from $257 billion in 2020 to $364 billion in 2022. This
represents a 41% global spending increase in just two years.*
As the cloud industry continues to grow, so will the demand for IT talent, presenting significant
opportunity for entry-level and experienced IT talent alike. Self-paced content

We are committed to helping individuals around the world advance in this industry, which will
become a steady source of new jobs over the next decade.
The pages ahead offer a look at some of the free cloud computing training programs we offer that Courses to facilitate
are available to individuals outside of Amazon. quick job transition

AWS Training AWS Fiber Optic Fusion Job placement

and Certification Splicing Certificate Program support

AWS Educate Machine Learning University

Accelerator Series

AWS re/Start

Gartner Press Release, Gartner Forecasts Worldwide Public Cloud Revenue to Grow 6.3% in 2020, July 2020. https://www.gartner.com/
en/newsroom/press-releases/2020-07-23-gartner-forecasts-worldwide-public-cloud-revenue-to-grow-6point3-percent-in-2020

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AWS Training Check this out if you:
Are looking for self-paced online courses
and Certification
Are looking to earn an AWS Certification
Are looking for live, virtual classroom instruction

Designed for individuals looking for foundational cloud computing skills, all the way to seasoned
IT professionals looking to stay up to date on the latest technologies, these programs offer more
than 500 free, on-demand online courses, interactive labs, and virtual day-long training sessions, as Building a path for women's leadership
well as job-based learning paths and numerous free instructor-led webinars, in multiple languages. through AWS certification
Through AWS Training and Certification, individuals can also access free digital training and exam AWS and Slalom Consulting are working
preparation courses to prepare for AWS Certifications. AWS Certifications enable learners to together to increase AWS Certification,
validate their AWS cloud computing expertise with an industry-recognized credential. especially among women in non-technical
AWS Training and Certification is continuously expanding its content, helping to keep pace with roles. The 12-week program combines self-
the innovation of new AWS services. In 2020, we added 50 new free digital courses and launched paced learning with digital training courses,
new initiatives including a Twitch livestreamed series called “AWS Power Hour.” There are three hands-on labs, virtual instructor-led sessions
new Twitch Power Hour series covering machine learning, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam for interactive learning, and supplemental
preparation, and a Q&A series to help individuals get their questions answered by an AWS expert. learning materials. The goal is to prepare
participants to achieve the AWS Certified
Cloud Practitioner and/or AWS Certified
Solutions Architect – Associate certifications,
achieving certification of almost 900 women
in 2020. AWS has also recently launched an
internal version of this program designed
Used in 200+ countries, territories Industry-recognized AWS to increase AWS cloud skills for women
Certification exams offered in 12 at Amazon.

role- and solution-specific areas

500+ free online courses 50 new courses launched

so far in 2020

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AWS Educate Check this out if you:
Are a student, educator, or U.S. military veteran or spouse
Are looking for self-paced online cloud computing courses

AWS Educate creates pathways to in-demand cloud jobs, from software development and cloud
architecture to machine learning and cybersecurity. The program offers self-paced learning content with 12 Robert Clarady
Cloud Career Pathways featuring between 30 and 50 hours of self-paced content per learning pathway.
AWS Educate is a no-cost program used in more than 200 countries and territories, connecting 3,500 “As I prepared for my transition from the
institutions, tens of thousands of educators, and hundreds of thousands of students. The program also military, I started researching what learning
continues to roll out new ways to reach learners by supporting programs like Northern Virginia Community opportunities were out there. I found a link
College’s JumpStart program, which offers tuition-free college courses to eligible high school graduates. to AWS Educate on a transitioning site, and it
The AWS Educate Job Board allows students to search for and apply to thousands of cloud jobs and seemed like the best way to explore the cloud
internship opportunities from Amazon and other companies around the world. … As I explore more AWS Educate pathways,
I continue to expand my knowledge and skill

200+ 5,000+
set around cloud computing. The experience
opened my eyes to a world of possibilities
that cloud could do to transform the way the
government and military do business. After
I finish my military service, I plan to pursue
Used in 200+ countries, territories 5,000+ cloud jobs and internships
a cloud-based career. I am confident that
available on the AWS Job Board AWS Educate will help me transition from
the military to the job market. My military
training, coupled with the knowledge and
skills I gained through AWS Educate, makes
Content available in 11 languages me more marketable to employers.”

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AWS re/Start Check this out if you:
Are looking for a rigorous, full-time training program
to accelerate your transition into a tech job

AWS re/Start offers a free, full-time, 12-week skills development program that prepares individuals
with little or no technology experience to pursue entry-level cloud computing positions and industry Rowenda Sabajo
recognized AWS Certification. AWS re/Start, which is taught by an AWS Accredited Instructor,
also provides learners with resume and interview coaching to prepare for employer meetings and
interviews. The program connects over 90% of graduates with interview opportunities. Rowenda, enrolled in the AWS re/Start
Amsterdam cohort last year. After 15 years
The program focuses on unemployed or underemployed individuals, including military veterans and
overseeing ground handling services at
their families and young people. AWS re/Start works with local collaborating organizations that share
Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport, she was ready
our mission of building a diverse global pipeline of entry-level trained talent. The program has grown
for a career change and wanted to transition
significantly in 2020, including launching in eight new countries this year: Australia, Belgium, Canada,
into a job in IT. Through the full-time AWS
Ghana, Ireland, Nigeria, Spain, and South Africa. AWS re/Start now operates in 25 cities across 12
re/Start program, she completed three
countries – and we expect to double the number of cities in 2021 as we continue to grow.
months of intensive cloud training including
scenario-based learning, hands-on labs,

2X 90%
and coursework, and is now an IT Specialist
at Randstad Group in the Netherlands.
Reflecting on the program, she said: “Joining
AWS re/Start is one of the most exciting
Aims to double the number of Connects over 90% of graduates things I’ve ever done. Learning about all of
global cities it operates in by the with interview opportunities the advanced technologies and services that
end of 2021 AWS offers was very engaging.”

Active in 25 cities
across 12 countries
8 Launched in 8 new
countries in 2020

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AWS Fiber Optic Fusion Check this out if you:
Are looking to accelerate your
Splicing Certificate Program transition into a tech job

The AWS Fiber Optic Fusion Splicing Certificate program is a two-day training course on fiber optic
installation and repair hosted in collaboration with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave. Fusion splicing Mark Glazner
is the joining of two optical fibers to create a continuous light path, carrying data to technologies
including phones, internet, and television. These skills are increasingly needed to build out the
Mark was working as a production leader at
world’s data and communication networks like 5G as well as data centers. Through lectures and
a small manufacturing company when he
hands-on lessons, students accepted into the program learn real-world deployment techniques
made the decision to make a major career
using a variety of hand tools to state-of-the-art automated fusion splicing technology. The
change. He had developed an interest in the
program also includes a career networking event to connect students and potential employers. This
fiber optics industry and, after researching
program is offered at no charge for students.
opportunities that would allow him the
Building on the program’s early success, AWS intends to expand this program internationally and career growth trajectory he was seeking, he
to additional educational institutions and military bases. In early 2021, the program will also enrolled in AWS Fiber Optic Fusion Splicing
launch a new introduction to fiber optics through an e-learning class that will serve as a primer for Certificate program. “The program really
individuals entering the field. opened the door for me to have this exciting
new opportunity and career path,” he said.
“The training gives you access to a growing
industry and there are not a lot of other
courses out there that offer this level of
access to employers.”

Expanding New fiber optics e-learning

internationally class coming online in early 2021
in 2021

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Machine Learning University Check this out if you:
Are looking for self-paced
Accelerator Series courses on machine learning

The recently launched Machine Learning University Accelerator Series provides anybody, anywhere
access to the same machine learning courses used to train Amazon’s own developers on machine
learning. This accelerated, free course series is designed to give people the opportunity to jump
right into learning and applying machine learning concepts to solve business problems. Through
sequential YouTube videos taught by Amazon scientists with hands-on practical examples, Jupyter
notebooks, and slide decks, MLU Accelerator Series provides a comprehensive self-service pathway
to understanding the foundations of machine learning.

36 video lectures 3 learning tracks

posted to date

Newly launched in 2020

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Supporting underserved and
underrepresented communities
Here are just a few of the ways we’re working to foster diversity in tech:

AWS Girls’ Tech Day AWS GetIT

AWS Girls’ Tech Day is designed to inspire and empower girls AWS GetIT is an initiative designed by AWS to encourage girls aged 12-13 to
and young women to pursue their interests and careers in consider a career in tech. Running between the fall and spring terms of the school
technology. This program offers a series of workshops focused year, AWS GetIT invites teams from different schools to an app-building
on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math education competition to solve real issues faced by their school or community. Since AWS
for thousands of girls around the world. In 2019, AWS Girls Tech GetIT’s launch in 2018, the program has captured imaginations and grown
days were hosted across the U.S., Sweden, Ireland, South Africa, rapidly: by the end of 2020, AWS estimates that over 23,000 students from 136
and Australia. In 2020, the program expanded into a fully virtual schools will have taken part.
experience for girls around the world.

AWS InCommunities Scholarship Program

AWS is proud to support community-based college scholarships aimed at

supporting students from underrepresented communities who intend to pursue
a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) field of study. This
renewable scholarship program, which doubled the number of recipients receiving
awards in 2020, is intended to support students for all four years.

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Additional community
education efforts

Future Engineer

Amazon is committed to bringing more resources to children and

young adults to help them build their best future through its
philanthropic Amazon in the Community initiatives. Amazon’s
primary computer science education program, Amazon Future
Engineer, is a four-part childhood-to-career program intended to
inspire, educate, and prepare children and young adults from
underrepresented and underserved communities to try and
pursue computer science.

Each year, Amazon Future Engineer aims to inspire hundreds of

thousands of young people to explore computer science.
Specifically, the program provides more than 550,000 K-12
students in more than 5,000 schools in underserved communities
across the U.S. with computer science courses and curriculum;
each year awards 100 students with $40,000 college scholarships
to study computer science and guaranteed, paid Amazon
internships; awards 10 teachers “Teacher of the Year” awards; and
forms unique partnerships with trusted institutions like Georgia
Tech’s EarSketch, Carnegie Mellon University, and Code.org to
bring creative, project based learning experiences to reach more
students. Amazon Future Engineer is part of Amazon’s $50
million investment to increase access to computer science and
STEM education across the country.
Beyond our commitment
The programs highlighted in this report are just some of the offers this training for free, and the hosting institution may
ways we’re helping to democratize access to education and skills charge a nominal fee to cover any additional delivery costs.
training. Here are just some of the other ways we’re helping to
Accelerating cloud innovation in healthcare. AWS newly
make technical training accessible:
piloted AWS DigiHealth in Canada this year. This is an
Providing higher education institutions with a free, ready- educational program designed for healthcare professionals in
to-teach cloud computing curriculum. AWS Academy provides IT, digital health, and healthcare delivery to learn about cloud
higher education institutions around the world with a free, computing concepts. The four-day program teaches participants
ready-to-teach cloud computing curriculum that prepares about the value of the cloud, shares examples of how the cloud
students to pursue AWS Certification and in-demand cloud can be applied in healthcare, and reviews applicable available
computing jobs. Part of the AWS Training and Certification services through AWS. The curriculum is designed to provide
offerings, these courses are designed to fit into existing course a look into how cloud computing technology can help play an
structures and include lectures, hand-on labs, knowledge important role in the future of healthcare. We are expanding
checks, and projects for in-depth learning experiences. To date, AWS DigiHealth in 2021 to additional countries across Asia and
more than 1,500 AWS Academy Accredited Educators at higher Latin America. AWS offers this training for free, and the hosting
education institutions have delivered AWS Academy courses to institution may charge a nominal fee to cover any additional
over 86,000 students worldwide. delivery costs.
Helping government employees accelerate their cloud Building bridges with government institutions. Through
knowledge. The AWS DigiGov is a two-day program designed the Amazon BRIDGE (Broadening Research and Innovation for
for public servants to learn about cloud computing concepts, Defense and Government Employees) Program, Amazon hosts
its value proposition, review use cases, and understand the employees from the U.S. Department of Defense and other
different services available through the AWS cloud. AWS DigiGov government organizations for a one-year fellowship. Fellows are
combines foundational cloud content; relevant customer success placed on teams throughout the company, including AWS, Alexa
stories; and sessions tailored to the audience. This program is a Smart Home, Amazon Air, Prime Air, Supply Chain Optimization
step toward preparing for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Technology, Machine Learning, Human Resources, Amazon Go,
exam. The virtual version of the program is now reaching Talent Development, Public Relations, Amazon Games, and
participants from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, many other organizations.
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Peru. The program
is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. AWS

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Programs for
Amazon employees
Supporting employees' career growth

In July 2019, Amazon committed $700 million to provide 100,000 employees,

roughly a third of our U.S. workforce at the time, with access to upskilling
programs through 2025. These training programs—including Amazon Technical
Academy, Associate2Tech, Machine Learning University, Career Choice,
Amazon Apprenticeship, and AWS Training and Certification – support
Amazon employees as they gain critical skills to move into higher skill, better-
paying, technical and non-technical roles, either within Amazon or elsewhere.

Through this pledge, Amazon is focused on creating pathways to careers in areas

that will continue growing in years to come, like medicine, cloud computing, and
machine learning. Since making this commitment in 2019, Amazon has scaled and
expanded these six employee programs across the U.S., with 15,000 participants
over the first 12 months.

Amazon Technical Amazon Apprenticeship

Academy
AWS Training
Associate2Tech and Certification

Career Choice

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Career Choice

Career Choice is an innovative Amazon program uniquely designed to upskill our employees who
are interested in pursuing a future outside of Amazon. By delivering training in high-demand career Patricia Soto
paths, we are proud to give eligible employees the tools they need to make a move and pursue Patricia Soto first learned of Career Choice
their career aspirations beyond Amazon. The Amazon Career Choice Program will pay up to 95% of when she was hired by Amazon as a
tuition and associated fees for courses at accredited schools that lead to vocational certifications or fulfillment center employee. As she looked
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in the following eligible fields of study: into all of the benefits that came with her
job, the opportunity to study healthcare
• Administration and Business Services • Mechanical and Skilled Trades
immediately appealed to her.
• Information Technology • Transportation
• Healthcare Once she enrolled in Career Choice, Patricia
was able to receive schedule flexibility so she
Career Choice targets roles in these fields that pay at least 10% more than Amazon’s $15/hour could attend school in the morning and still
minimum wage in local communities and offer upward career growth. Eligible courses include work a shortened shift at night. During the
paths to 20 different jobs in the U.S., including Computer Support Specialist, Web Developer, nine-month program, she learned proper
Aircraft Mechanic, Nurse, Paralegal/Legal Assistant, Commercial Truck Driver, and Network medical terminology, processes related to
Technician, among others. running a medical office, and hands-on
procedures like charting before participating
in a clinical externship where she became
proficient in the technology, systems, and
procedures that medical personnel use daily.
Today, Patricia works for the Sutter Gould
Medical Foundation—the organization
In 2020, associates where she completed her externship—as a
in all 50 states can certified medical assistant. As a result of
take Career Choice. her experience with Career Choice, Patricia
continues to feel motivated in her new
career. “I was able to establish a solid
foundation of skills I can continue to build on
and go even further in my career.”

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Career Choice fast facts

Christine Fanuel
Over 30,000 participants in the U.S. since
Christine Fanuel first joined Amazon as an
the program started IT Coordinator and learned about Amazon’s
Career Choice program as part of her
onboarding. “I had aspirations to move up
$65+ million invested in tuition since in my career and so I saw the program as a
the program started springboard to advance in IT,” said Christine.
For the first six months of the Career Choice
IT track program, Christine continued to work
Amazon is currently partnering with over while attending classes to learn about new
100+ educational partners in the U.S. applications and tools that IT professionals
work with every day. The next six months of
the program were devoted to networking and
helping her figure out where she wanted to
There will be 60 classrooms built into pursue a career.
fulfillment centers by end of 2020
Christine found an opportunity as a
Production/Technical Support III specialist
outside of Amazon, helping clients solve IT
58% of participants are from problems remotely.
underrepresented minority groups She credits Career Choice with helping her
advance her career and remain motivated to
learn new things.
In the U.S., Career Choice is offered “I’ve learned that a career in IT demands that
in all 50 states and 238 counties you educate yourself continuously because
there are new tools or programs being added
all the time.”

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Associate2Tech

Associate2Tech is a program that provides fulfillment center employees the opportunity to

move into technical roles within Amazon’s vast operations network, regardless of their previous Jacob Peterson
IT experience. This 90-day program is designed to place associates in on-the-job training for IT Jacob Peterson joined Amazon as a
support technician roles and pays for their CompTIA A+ Certification test, a widely recognized fulfillment center entry-level employee.
certification in this field. After asking IT members for advice on
how to move into an IT role, he enrolled
No existing degree is needed, and participants enjoy paid study time during their work week,
in the Associate2Tech program. “It’s really
while being paid their regular salary.
difficult to get experience in technical
customer support without actually having

38% 80%
a job in that role. Associate2Tech helped
me break through,” said Jacob. Currently
interim IT Manager in Kent, Washington.
Jacob credits Associate2Tech for teaching
38% of entry-level technician hires 80% of participants have him the technical and soft skills needed for
meaningful customer interaction.
were previously fulfillment transitioned to IT roles within
center employees Amazon’s OpsTech organization,
and 15% of participants have
been promoted and now hold
engineer positions
Andre Grass
Having dropped out of high school to help
support his family, packer Andre Grass
completed his Associate2Tech training and
certifications in three months and became an
IT support engineer. “Since graduating from the
program, I’ve had the opportunity to launch
new sites and work on projects that improved
overall customer experience, and have been
promoted to the next level within IT.”

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Amazon Technical Academy

Amazon Technical Academy (ATA) is a training and job placement program that equips non-
technical Amazon employees with the essential skills needed to transition into and thrive in Jenna Wasserman
technical careers at Amazon. Combining instructor-led, project-based learning with real-world Jenna Wasserman was a member of the
application, graduates master the most widely used software engineering skills and tools, including Customer Profile team when software
AWS cloud computing technology. engineering piqued her interest. Through ATA
she learned the core elements of coding, from
The tuition-free program was created by Amazon software engineers with deep expertise in what is
the Java language to different AWS services
required to succeed in a long-term software engineering career for Amazon employees. During the
and build systems. Jenna is now a software
nine months of full time instruction, participants are provided a stipend to cover living expenses
engineer using machine learning technology
and a subsidy to maintain their benefits plans. At the conclusion of the instruction, ATA graduates
to create new ways for Amazon customers
are placed on Amazon software development teams to demonstrate their skills through a three-
to shop more visually. She has newfound
month internship before transitioning into a full time entry level role as a software engineer.
confidence and often leans on the mentors and
colleagues she met through ATA.

95% $ 12M
ATA has successfully placed Over $12M invested in
95% of its graduates in software training costs in 2020 Ivan Mwiruki
development engineering roles Ivan Mwiruki advanced from Quality Assurance
Engineer to Software Development Engineer,
working on AWS Quantum Ledger Database,
in only one year through ATA. “Instead of
cobbling together my own curriculum and

93%
Graduates’ total compensation slowly transitioning towards my goal over
increased 93% on average multiple years, I could learn from a curriculum
created by Amazon engineers for future
Amazon engineers and work through that
curriculum with the support of instructors,
mentors, and fellow participants.”

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Machine Learning University

Machine Learning University (MLU) is an initiative that helps Amazon employees with a
background in technology and coding gain skills in this discipline. As machine learning plays an Soji Adeshina
increasingly important role in customer innovation, MLU helps employees learn core skills to While pursuing electrical engineering and
propel their career growth—skills that are often learned only in higher education. computer science at the University of
Divided into six-week modules, the program requires only a half to one full day of classes a week. California, Berkeley, Soji Adeshina became
This program removes a number of barriers for employees to continue to gain technical skills, interested in machine learning. After
including providing graduate-level courses at no cost; allowing employees to stay in the workforce graduation, he joined Amazon as a software
even as they learn the latest advancements in their field; and offering employees with protected engineer for Amazon Robotics, then applied
time to study during the work week. There is no requirement for participants to stay at Amazon for to a pilot MLU program. “MLU gave me the
a certain time after completing this program. confidence to pursue a long-term career path
in applied science and modeling,” said Soji, who
MLU courses are currently available to any technical employee at Amazon in the world.
now works on deep learning for the ML Services
team at AWS. “The skills I’ve learned have
allowed me to earn trust from senior leaders

66+ 300
and the ability to tackle large projects.”

MLU offered classes to More than 300 scientists have

employees in over 66 locations helped MLU develop, review, and
worldwide in 2019 deliver courses since inception Nick Erickson
Nick Erickson’s participation in MLU came through
the Machine Learning Accelerator program (MLA).
As a software development engineer, he took
MLU is now available in every state with the part in the three-day educational program that
greatest number of participants from Seattle, concludes with a competition—which he won. He
Washington; Herndon, Virginia; San Francisco, was subsequently invited to author and lead the
California; Irvine, California; Austin, Texas; and development of AutoGluon, an open source toolkit
Boston, Massachusetts. that is now a required learning for MLU students.
He also oversees a team of six and coordinates
MLU competitions for fellow Amazonians.

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Amazon Apprenticeship

Amazon Apprenticeship is a Department of Labor–certified program that offers a combination of

paid immersive learning and on-the-job training with Amazon. Amazon’s Apprenticeship program Caleb Jarrett
has already created paths to technical jobs for hundreds of candidates working to break into careers, Caleb Jarrett learned about the Amazon
including cloud support associate, data center technician, and software development engineer. Apprenticeship Program through a military
A full list of these roles include: recruiter as he prepared to leave the U.S.
Air Force. Having a desire to work in IT but
• Associate Cloud Consultant Apprentice • Technical Sales Apprentice little IT experience, Caleb was able to receive
• Data Center Technician Apprentice • Support Engineer Apprentice a Cloud Practitioner certification following
• Solutions Architect Apprentice • Technical Account Manager Apprentice a 90-day in-classroom sprint. He was then
• Systems Development Engineer Apprentice • Cloud Support Associate assigned, along with his cohort, to support
AWS, where he collectively worked to solve
problems and innovate new solutions through
a full year of on-the-job training. Today, Caleb

700+ 90%
serves as Lead Development Representative
on the Public Sector Sales team.

700+ apprentices since start More than a 90% completion

of program rate for all apprentices in
instructor-led training
Mario Perry
After a career in the U.S. Army, Mario Perry
enrolled in the Apprenticeship Program.
Following a year of on-the-job training, he
was swiftly offered a position on the National
Security team as a Cloud Consultant. Mario
has since been promoted to Associate Cloud
Consultant, where he helps customers in
the public sector migrate and optimize their
applications and workloads to AWS.

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AWS Training and Certification

AWS Training and Certification equips learners and organizations across the globe—including
Amazon employees—with cloud computing education to build and validate in-demand cloud Kira Gobes
computing skills. After completing her undergraduate degree
in computer science at Lehigh University, Kira
Through AWS Training and Certification, Amazon offers AWS Tech U, an accelerated career
Gobes enrolled in Amazon’s Tech U program
development program for recent graduates hired into technical roles to advance their skills
to become a Solutions Architect. “Every day in
and help customers design flexible and resilient cloud-based solutions. The residency program
Tech U was different,” said Kira. “We focused
includes a six-month academic curriculum followed by three to six months of on-the-job
on a number of different subject areas and
training. Participants learn from top AWS subject matter experts and get paid while they train
learned the real-life applications of these
for a career working with  AWS’s customers. AWS Tech U graduates are prepared to serve as
technologies." As part of her Tech U capstone
solutions architects, technical trainers, and professional services consultant roles within AWS.
presentation, Kira and two of her coworkers
created an interactive adventure game to
teach kids about coding, cloud, and IoT.

635 498
Tech U gave Kira the skills to become an AWS
Solutions Architect, a role she would hold
for a year before stepping into her current
role as a Technical Program Manager. Kira
By the end of 2020, Tech U will AWS Tech U intends to train now runs a program where she is passing on
have instructed 635 residents an additional 498 residents her cloud technology expertise to the next
with locations in 7 countries in 2021 generation of talent. “I’ve always wanted to
make a positive impact using technology.
Tech U enabled me to pursue my passions by
opening so many new doors and exposing me
to new opportunities.”
Kira gained a lasting network of Solutions
Architects through Tech U. “We all came from
different backgrounds and ultimately pursed
different types of technical work, but they’re
still my core group of friends and colleagues.”

23 AMAZON UPSKILLING 2025 REPORT

For more information about Amazon’s global training
programs, or to access the full Accenture findings, visit:

https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/
employee-opportunities