The Adecco Group and Microsoft launch free global AI learning initiative to build an inclusive, future-ready workforce

The Adecco Group and Microsoft launch free global AI learning initiative to build an inclusive, future-ready workforce

(IN BRIEF) The Adecco Group and Microsoft have launched a free global AI learning program aimed at equipping jobseekers with essential AI and digital skills to thrive in an AI-driven economy. Initially launching in Switzerland with a phased international rollout, the initiative merges Microsoft’s Elevate Skills learning platform with the Adecco Group’s extensive global network, offering accessible, modular, and ethically grounded AI training. CEO Denis Machuel and Microsoft’s Naria Santa Lucia emphasized the shared goal of creating an inclusive workforce and bridging the digital skills gap. The program will provide millions of jobseekers worldwide, including those in underserved communities, with practical AI capabilities linked directly to employment opportunities.

(PRESS RELEASE) ZURICH, 21-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The Adecco Group (SIX: ADEN) has announced a groundbreaking global collaboration with Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) to launch a free AI learning program designed to empower jobseekers with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven economy. The initiative, which will roll out first in Switzerland before expanding globally, aims to close the digital divide by offering accessible, practical, and ethical AI education to individuals from all backgrounds, including underserved communities and sectors.

The new program combines Microsoft’s learning expertise with the Adecco Group’s vast workforce network, reaching millions of candidates through its global brands Adecco, LHH, and Akkodis. Participants will gain foundational AI knowledge and practical digital capabilities to improve employability, while the Adecco Group’s workforce solutions connect newly skilled candidates to job opportunities worldwide.

Denis Machuel, CEO of the Adecco Group, emphasized the shared mission of democratizing technology:

“AI can be a powerful bridge to opportunity. Democratizing AI skills is our responsibility to shape the workforce of the future. This partnership reflects our shared belief that access to AI skilling must be inclusive, practical, and human-centric. By combining Microsoft’s learning platform with the Adecco Group’s global reach and expertise, we’re helping people everywhere build the confidence and capabilities to thrive in the AI era.”

Echoing this sentiment, Naria Santa Lucia, General Manager of Microsoft Elevate Skills, said:

“At Microsoft, we believe access to AI skills should be universal and empowering—no matter where someone starts their journey. By partnering with the Adecco Group, we’re making it possible for jobseekers to build the confidence and capabilities needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy. Together, we’re opening doors for people from every background and equipping them with the future-ready skills to succeed.”

The AI learning curriculum has been built with a flexible, modular design, enabling learners to progress at their own pace. Beyond technical AI knowledge, it integrates lessons in ethical AI literacy, ensuring participants understand how AI systems operate, their potential biases, and how to use them responsibly.

Engaging with around 60 million candidates every year, the Adecco Group is leveraging its global footprint to ensure maximum reach and real-world employability outcomes. This initiative directly supports its purpose to make the future work for everyone, while aligning with Microsoft’s global mission to empower people with AI skills for workforce readiness and economic inclusion.

Together, the Adecco Group and Microsoft are fostering a more inclusive and digitally resilient global workforce—one where every individual, regardless of background, has the opportunity to learn, adapt, and succeed in the new AI economy.

For further information please contact:

The Adecco Group Corporate Press Office
Jürg Schneider
Group Head External Communications, The Adecco Group
media@adecco.com
Tel: +41 (0) 79 876 09 21

About The Adecco Group

The Adecco Group is the world’s leading talent and technology expertise company. Our purpose is making the future work for everyone. Through our three global business units – Adecco, Akkodis and LHH – across 60 countries, we enable sustainable and lifelong employability for individuals, deliver digital and engineering solutions to empower organisations to optimise their workforces. The Adecco Group leads by example and is committed to fostering sustainable employability and supporting resilient economies and communities.

The Adecco Group AG is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN).
https://www.adeccogroup.com/

SOURCE: Adecco Group