A series of revelations from a recent report by the National Skills Coalition titled “Closing Michigan’s Digital Skill Divide” is emphasizing the need to teach basic digital skills to a large share of the Michigan workforce.

Almost ninety percent of jobs available to Michigan workers, including many in manufacturing, require digital skills but roughly a third of workers in Michigan’s job market lack the digital literacy necessary to thrive in those employment conditions, a summary of the report stated.

The situation in Michigan is far from unique across the country, according to the report, which stated that almost 48 million Americans, representing a third of U.S. workers, lack crucial digital skills.

“For workers, moving from a job that requires no digital skills to one that requires just one digital skill can yield a 23% increase in wages,” said a summary of the report. “For employers, providing workers with upskilling opportunities can save businesses $25,000-$78,000 in turnover and retention costs per employee.”

The National Skills Coalition, which announced the report on Jan. 22, also highlighted efforts to increase digital literacy in Michigan’s workforce.

“Comcast has invested more than $855 million in technology and network infrastructure, and more than $13.5 million in cash and in-kind contributions to nonprofit organizations across Michigan in the last three years,” the announcement stated.

Comcast, which entered into a partnership with the National Skills Coalition last year, also operates Project UP in Michigan and around the country, according to the National Skills Coalition. The program is described as a $1 billion commitment from Comcast to advancing digital equity in the company’s footprint.

Along with participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), the company offers Michigan users access to their Internet Essentials program.

The program “provides low-cost, high-speed broadband service to income-constrained households, connecting more than one million students, parents, veterans and seniors in Michigan,” the Jan. 23 announcement from the National Skills Coalition stated.