As unemployment numbers continue to skyrocket, you are just one click away from earning a new certification or even finding a new job.

“There are a lot of people looking to hire,” said Amber Mooney, The Business Council of New York State Workforce Development director. “There are recruiters saying that now is when more people are looking for jobs.”

To strengthen their resumes, they can gain skills in IT and manufacturing through a new online program called Skill-up AMP. It’s offered for free by the Business Council of New York State, SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Metrix Learning.


“Prior to this situation, the demand for these skills was already exceeding what was available,” said Mooney. “So, the demand is continuing to increase.”

Jobseekers can simply go online to amp.skillupamerica.org to get started.

“The extensive IT catalog is IBM, Cisco, Adobe, Microsoft -- all industry recognized training and credentials,” said Mooney. And the IT catalog is certified by Skillsoft which is the same provider some of the fortune 500 companies use.”

Developers say trainings could last about an hour, and there are more than 8,000 courses to choose from.

“Using the pathways will help identify what courses you need for specific jobs,” said Mooney. “Those job titles link out to the Federal Department of Labor’s own website so they can see a general overview, average salary nationwide, and the outlook.”

The site allows employers to find their perfect match, too.

“Once they have an idea of what they’re looking for, they can search different titles and they can see what job seekers have those skills,” Mooney.

It’s a win-win for those hiring and looking:

“These are not low-paying jobs,” said Mooney. “These are very good paying jobs, and it’s possible for someone to elevate their situation by getting more skills.”