CompTIA offers a variety of programs to help businesses optimize their workforces. These programs include apprenticeships and a career academy for tech professionals, as well as programs that target underrepresented groups. Find out how you can get involved. Many companies are struggling to fill skills gaps and have a shortage of workers. Businesses are feeling the pressure with more job openings and women leaving the workforce, as well as underrepresented groups leaving the workforce in large numbers. CompTIA has made the development of the tech workforce a key objective to help build a resilient workforce and augment it, according to executives at CompTIA’s Communities & Councils Forum.
TechGirlz offers opportunities for young females
Women are a group that is often underrepresented in tech. According to Deloitte, only 24% of technical workforce in 2021 was made up of women. Statistics show that girls have become less interested in technology as a result of their middle school years. Peer pressures, developmental strains and reinforcement of traditional gender roles like passivity have made it harder for females to find job and curriculum roles in technical fields. CompTIA’s TechGirlz aims to change this.
Amy Cliett is the senior director of program operations at TechGirlz. She describes how the group is setting the scene for female advancement through their middle school program. She said, “One of our first things is to get the girls into a separate, secure space.” “Most girls shy away from asking questions or trying new things in front of their boys. We give them the opportunity to explore what they are interested in learning. Many girls love solving problems.” The organization creates projects to support girls in their quest for answers.
Connect Four makes it possible for underrepresented groups to benefit from work-based learning by enabling them to connect with Connect Four
CompTIA is also committed to helping fill the talent pipeline by encouraging participation of traditionally underrepresented groups. CompTIA uses a program called Connect Four to encourage work-based learning in these groups.
Connect Four offered remote panel discussions to students during the pandemic to spark interest in other career fields. Recent discussions included hearing impaired people. Sign language interpreters were available as well as representatives from different fields. “Work-based learning is one of the most challenging parts of a learning program in high schools and college,” said Angel Pinero (Vice President of Strategic Academic Relations at CompTIA).
To Strengthen the Workforce, Establish Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are not just for trades anymore. CompTIA offers active apprenticeship programs that combine mentorships with instruction to encourage participation in technology careers. Amy Kardel (Senior Vice President of Strategic Workforce Relations at CompTIA), stated that apprenticeships are one the oldest workforce development tools. “Apprenticeships enable employers to create a highly skilled workforce.”
Apprenticeships are unique in that they allow employers to actively address their talent shortages by developing mentors within the company and training new talent. She says that, beyond the retention of talent and staffing solutions, we are seeing a better development of leadership which allows employers to give back in an innovative way.
CompTIA Tech Career Academy offers alternative educational paths
People without a degree are another group that is often excluded from tech jobs. It is a common misconception that technical jobs can only be accessed by those with a traditional four year degree. “I feel this country has done a little disservice to its students by making people feel like they need to go to college and if that doesn’t happen, they’re less than,” Nancy Hammervik, CEO, CompTIA Tech Career Academy.
The academy offers technical education, career assistance, soft skills development, interview prep and training, and even job prep and training. It is a non-traditional route to technical education and careers. “A CompTIA A+ certification and an associate’s degree will get you into a tech job for less than $10,000.
CompTIA also supported a program that helped incarcerated Texas women obtain their tech certification and find work in order to foster family relationships.
Diverse Workforce to Fill the Tech Gap
CompTIA supports diversity programs