In a workforce where adaptability is the new currency, knowing what skills your employees actually have—and need—may be the smartest business strategy.
That’s the core insight driving a newly announced collaboration between the University of Phoenix and Jobs for the Future (JFF). The two organizations have teamed up to launch an ambitious AI-powered skills analysis and upskilling strategy, designed to help employers evaluate, align, and act on workforce capabilities in real-time.
This isn’t just another learning platform add-on. It’s a research-backed, pilot-tested initiative aimed at identifying the real-world outcomes of using AI for skills mapping, development planning, and mobility—at a moment when most companies are lagging behind.
Context: Skills Are Changing, Investment Is Not
According to the World Economic Forum, 39% of core job skills will change by 2030. Yet many employers aren’t preparing fast enough. The 2025 Career Optimism Index® revealed a troubling mismatch: while 86% of workers are actively looking for upskilling opportunities, employer investment in reskilling has actually dropped 13 points since 2022, and upskilling 10 points.
“As AI reshapes the workforce, the companies that thrive won’t necessarily be those with the best technology, but those with the most adaptable people,” said Raghu Krishnaiah, COO at University of Phoenix. “We’re closing the gap between aspiration and action.”
That action centers around Skillmore™, the university’s AI-powered skills intelligence platform and tech affiliate. It will serve as the core engine of the pilot, helping assess current skill inventories, define needed capabilities, and match learning pathways to individual employee profiles.
What the Pilot Will Do
The project, running through May 2026, will involve:
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Discovery & Analysis: JFF will examine how AI tools can validate and develop employee skills across diverse workforce populations.
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Testing & Piloting: Employers will trial the solution in real-world conditions, exploring its impact on retention, career mobility, and workforce agility.
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Transparency & Trust: Special focus will be placed on algorithmic transparency and ethical AI design—a key concern for many HR leaders today.
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Field Report: The project will culminate in a comprehensive impact report with insights for employers, educators, and tech developers.
A Broader Mission Alignment
This partnership taps into shared missions. JFF is pushing toward its “North Star” goal of getting 75 million Americans into quality jobs by 2033, especially those facing systemic barriers. The University of Phoenix, with its deep employer network and adult learner focus, brings both reach and relevancy.
Together, they’re not just experimenting with AI—they’re trying to make it trustworthy, transparent, and transformational.
“During this critical adoption phase of AI platforms, JFF is committed to supporting responsible design and measurable employer impact,” said Alison Lands, VP of Employer & Workforce Solutions at JFF.
Implications: Why Employers Should Pay Attention
This initiative arrives at a pivotal moment in workforce tech. Companies are piling money into AI solutions—but many lack the strategy to use them effectively. The Phoenix-JFF partnership goes beyond buzzwords to explore what happens when skills really become the backbone of business planning.
It also calls out a growing divide: workers want to learn, but employers aren’t always enabling it. Bridging that gap—with AI as the translator between skills and business outcomes—could be the secret to surviving the coming decade of disruption.
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