Pearson Education, a London-based provider of textbooks and online courses, has acquired Australian workforce AI and predictive analytics company, Faethm.

Faethm’s analytics services aim to help governments, companies and workers understand the forces shaping the labor market, such as technological disruption and economic shocks like Covid-19 and climate change.

Faethm founders Michael Priddis and Greg Miller will join the leadership team of Pearson’s new Workforce Skills division. Priddis is a former partner at BCG and Asia managing director BCG Digital Ventures and Miller has held Asia-Pacific executive leadership roles at SAP, PeopleSoft and Unisys.

“Together, Faethm’s analytics capabilities and Pearson’s learning products will help companies of all sizes understand what skills they need and how to develop them,” said Michael Howells, Workforce Skills division president. “In this digital age, we want to help the world’s workforce unlock its potential and ensure that companies have highly skilled employees who can work alongside new technology. This is another key building block in Pearson’s strategy to help learners develop their talent and skills at every life stage, from school through to work.”

Since Faethm’s launch less than four years ago the company has grown to serve customers in 21 industries in 26 countries from offices in Sydney, London, San Francisco and New York.