We want to give a big shoutout to Autodesk for the Autodesk Assistance Program, which it has been running since this past April, for displaced workers, of which there are far too many.

The program allows designers, engineers and architects who are out of work due to the recession to obtain free software, training and resources—yes, you read the word FREE right—to help them maintain and upgrade their design skills during this down economy. Specifically, there are 17 Autodesk products—including Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD Mechanical, and Alias Design—that are available via 13-month student licenses.

In addition to which, Autodesk is organizing networking events to help bring the out-of-work designers, engineers and architects together. What’s more, if one of the people who have registered with Autodesk for the software gets hired, the employer is eligible for significant software discounts.

The program runs through the end of 2009 (in the U.S.).

The people are Autodesk are to be commended for this initiative.