Government Spotlight: How Nevada Is Promoting New Digital Career Pathways

Overview + Challenges

Despite historically low unemployment rates, Nevada now faces over 89,000 unemployed residents. This surge comes at a pivotal moment when emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI), are reshaping the workplace—with studies showing that up to 49% of workers could see significant changes in their job roles. 

Nevada’s geographical divide is at the center of this challenge, with urban areas like Las Vegas and Reno benefiting more from accessible education and training resources while rural communities face barriers to skill development. This uneven distribution of upskilling opportunities has created a two-tiered system that threatens to minimize many Nevadans' opportunities to participate in the digital economy.

The state’s economic transition requires rapid workforce upskilling and reskilling across all sectors. Traditional industries like hospitality and mining must modernize to remain competitive, while growth sectors hungry for digital talent continue to expand. Ultimately, the workforce must be equally comfortable in various competencies, from digital marketing strategies to data analytics. 

The path forward requires an accessible, scalable approach. While state leadership recognizes the need to serve all workers, this partnership focuses on the 40,000+ people ages 16-24 in Clark County who are neither in school nor in the workforce. To build a talent pipeline that powers economic growth for future generations, Nevada must create accessible pathways to digital skills training aligned with current and future industry demands.

The Partnership

In response to these challenges, Nevada’s Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) launched LearnNV in August 2023, partnering with Coursera to provide world-class digital training statewide. Beginning in Clark County and quickly expanding statewide, the program taps into Coursera’s extensive online learning platform to provide free, industry-aligned training to unemployed and underemployed Nevadans. 

Content offered to Nevadans

• 6,000 courses and credentials

• 3,500 Guided Projects

• 35 industry micro-credentials 

LearnNV breaks down traditional geographical barriers to learning with a flexible approach where learners can progress at their own pace and access training whenever and wherever it fits their schedule. The program’s curriculum, which features courses from leading tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and IBM, focuses on preparing Nevadans for high-demand roles, including Data Analyst, Cybersecurity Analyst, UX Designer, Application Developer, and Social Media Marketer.

Through Coursera’s hands-on Guided Projects, learners gain practical experience using industry tools while building portfolios that showcase their new or improved capabilities to potential employers. Industry micro-credentials, such as Professional Certificates offered through Coursera’s Career Academy, are especially valuable as they’re designed for people without prior experience or degrees to prepare them for entry-level positions. These credentials carry additional weight through ACE credit recommendations, allowing learners to earn between one and 18 college credits upon completion. 

Top LearnNV Courses by enrollment

• Foundations: Data, Data Everywhere, Google

• Foundations of Project Management, Google

• Foundations of Digital Marketing & E-commerce, Google

• Foundations of Cybersecurity, Google

• Intro to Cloud Computing, IBM

• Teach English Now! Foundational Principles, Arizona State University

• Everyday Excel, University of Colorado Boulder

A standout aspect of LearnNV is its integration with Nevada’s Rapid Response Program, which addresses layoffs and business closures. This program proved especially valuable in July 2024 when the iconic Mirage Resort on the Las Vegas Strip closed its doors. DETR quickly mobilized LearnNV’s resources to provide all 3,000 displaced workers immediate access to reskilling and upskilling opportunities. Learner feedback from an anonymous survey highlighted 3 key benefits of the program, including:

• Skill Enhancement and Technical Knowledge: Many learners reported significant improvements in their technical skills and professional knowledge across various fields such as data science, AI, revenue management, DevOps, cloud computing, and more. 

• Career Advancement and Employment Opportunities: The program helped learners build stronger profiles for job applications, improve confidence in interviews, and open doors to new career opportunities.

• Professional Growth and Development: Many learners expressed gratitude for the opportunity to grow professionally through continuous learning. The program not only allowed them to refine and expand their skill set but also empowered them to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, contributing positively to their career progression and future goals.

As Ben Daesler, Chief of Workforce Operations, State of Nevada, Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation notes:

“LearnNV is a full-spectrum workforce development solution. Partnering with Coursera means we can offer Nevadans access to the same high-quality training used by leading companies worldwide. This accessible platform gives our citizens the skills they need to compete in the changing economy.”

Impact

The program has garnered remarkable engagement, with more than 15,000 registered learners who have invested over 283,000 hours in training and completed more than 35,000 courses. These early results signal the workforce’s ability to quickly adapt to a more digitally focused economy. 

“LearnNV is a great investment in the next generation of Nevadans,” says Mary Beth Sewald, President and CEO of the Vegas Chamber. “This platform offers another pathway for young people to acquire the skills they need to secure higher paying jobs, and it will benefit employers who need qualified employees to help their businesses grow.”

LearnNV has been especially impactful for Nevada's rural communities. By breaking down geographical barriers to education and bringing world-class training directly to regions historically lacking in-person learning opportunities, the initiative is closing the urban-rural skills divide. 

Looking Ahead

Nevada’s workforce transformation continues to gain momentum. DETR is now launching a strategic outreach campaign to employers across the state, highlighting how LearnNV’s digital credentials can strengthen their existing workforce. This dual approach of upskilling current employees while building a pipeline of skilled graduates creates a powerful incentive for businesses to tap into LearnNV’s growing talent pool. 

As digital transformation continues to reshape Nevada’s economy, LearnNV is a blueprint for how states facing similar workforce challenges can leverage innovative public-private partnerships to build a future-ready workforce. The program continues to offer its full range of courses, credentials, Guided Projects, and micro-credentials, making digital skills training accessible to all Nevadans for the foreseeable future.

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