Press Releases

Downers Grove, Ill. – Illinois workers whose jobs have been eliminated or placed on furlough due to the COVID-19 pandemic can gauge their interest in pursuing a new career in information technology (IT) via a free online course from CompTIA, the leading trade association for the global IT industry.

CompTIA is offering free 30-day licenses for its CertMaster Learn eLearning course for CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+). The offer is available until May 31, 2020.

CompTIA ITF+ is the only pre-career certification that helps potential career changers and others determine if they have a competency for IT and whether a career in tech is right for them.

In March more than 14,000 workers across Illinois received layoff notices, with nearly 8,400 of them permanent, according to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s monthly WARN Activity Listing report.[1] Auto dealers, barber shops and beauty salons, fitness centers, hotels, manufacturing, professional services, restaurants, retailers and tourism were among the business categories affected by layoffs, almost all of which were due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“The stark reality is that many of these jobs and some of these companies are unlikely to recover and return in a post-pandemic world,” said Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO of CompTIA. “People in Illinois and around the country are understandably anxious about getting back to work. We want to let them know that there are new career opportunities for them to explore in the technology field.”

Though not immune from the effects of the pandemic, the U.S. IT sector added an estimated 8,500 new jobs last in March, according to an analysis by CompTIA.[2]

Additionally, employers’ job postings for IT positions totaled nearly 360,000 nationwide last month. Illinois companies advertised job opening for 15,314 IT positions in March, the sixth highest total among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

While not every job posting results in a new hire the data is an indicator where companies are headed with their hiring and their plans for technology investments.

CertMaster Learn for CompTIA ITF+ explores the basics of IT concepts and terminology, including IT infrastructure, software and applications development, cybersecurity and database fundamentals. The course is packed with content and features delivered in an engaging and flexible way that can be personalized to meet each individual’s preferred method of learning, as well as easy-to-use self-assessments and analytics to track your progress through the course.

Many individuals have used CompTIA ITF+ as a first step toward a career in IT, while others have benefitted simply by broadening their knowledge of technology.

CompTIA’s free training is offered in cooperation with its partner, BenchPrep, a provider of a configurable cloud-based learning platform.

To access the free CompTIA CertMaster Learn for IT Fundamentals (ITF+) course visit https://certs.comptia.org/means_more/. There, you’ll be asked to complete a brief form to receive a unique code from BenchPrep for the free 30-day license.

CompTIA’s vendor-neutral certifications help millions of IT professionals around the world validate their skills and advance in their careers. CompTIA also offers a full suite of official learning resources, including self-paced and live online training with an instructor. Visit CompTIA.org to learn more.

About CompTIA
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5.2 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the estimated 75 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the world’s economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce. Visit www.comptia.org to learn more.

Contact:

Steven Ostrowski
CompTIA
630-678-8468
sostrowski@comptia.org­
www.comptia.org