CompTIA Newsroom

WASHINGTON, D.C. – CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, the world’s leading technology association, will host the panel discussion “Apprenticeships and Solving the IT Skills Gap” at South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive on March 11. The panel will focus on creative ways in which government and private entities can work together to develop more robust apprenticeship programs providing on-the-job training to help solve the growing IT skills gap.

At the end of 2016, there were an estimated 508,000 core IT job postings across the U.S. This gap will increase significantly in the coming years, as older workers retire and the expansion of cloud, cybersecurity and big data devices require more people to create, manage and monitor technology. Legislation in Congress such at the EARNS Act introduced by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Patty Murray (D-WA) have taken early steps to address this growing issue. CompTIA is working with state technology council partners across the country pushing legislation to ease many of the burdens preventing the adoption of alternative education models, including work-based learning, to fill job openings and spur economic growth.

“We’re creating pathways to IT careers to fill the skills gap,” said Charles Eaton, president and CEO, Creating IT Futures, and executive vice president, social innovation, CompTIA. “With our IT-Ready program, we can assess, train and certify an adult for an entry-level IT job in eight weeks. The apprenticeship programs by Techtonic and WTIA are another strong avenue to get people into IT jobs – all without the traditional four-year college degree. With such a large skills gap in the U.S., our industry needs multiple avenues to train tomorrow’s technologists.”

Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film and music industries. CompTIA’s panel on apprenticeships is part of the SXSW Tech Industry Track, which features sessions ranging from developments in the United States to innovative new ideas in the international ecosystem.

SXSW attendees can learn more about apprenticeships, certifications and work-based learning programs at CompTIA’s booth #405, March 12-15. The first 100 attendees to the booth can get Eaton’s new book, How to Launch Your Teen’s Career in Technology: A Parent’s Guide to the T in STEM Education.

WHO:

Charles Eaton, President & CEO, Creating IT Futures

Heather Terenzio, President, Techtronic Group

Jennifer Carlson, Director, Washington Technology Industry Association

Ardine Williams, Vice President of Global Talent Acquisitions, Amazon Web Services

DATE: Saturday, March 11, 2017

TIME: 9:30am – 10:30am

LOCATION: J.W. Marriott, Salon AB, 110 E 2nd Street. Austin, TX

CompTIA: Building the Foundation for Technology's Future
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the world's leading technology association, with approximately 2,000 member companies, 3,000 academic and training partners, over 100,000 registered users and more than two million IT certifications issued.  CompTIA's unparalleled range of programs foster workforce skills development and generate critical knowledge and insight –  building the foundation for technology’s future.  Visit CompTIA online, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. 

About CompTIA Advocacy
Through its advocacy arm, CompTIA champions member-driven business and IT priorities that impact all information technology companies – from small managed solutions providers and software developers to large equipment manufacturers and communications service providers. CompTIA gives eyes, ears and a voice to technology companies, informing them of policy developments – and providing the means to do something about it. 

Press Contact:
Preston Grisham
pgrisham@comptia.org
202-682-4458