AIX > Trends > What's New

Apprentice Program Looks to Train Workers to Fill IT Jobs

Despite a high national unemployment rate, approximately 450,000 IT jobs remain unfilled in the U.S., says Charles Eaton, executive director of the Creating IT Futures Foundation. Eaton was citing findings by Indeed.com. The reason for this paradox? Job seekers don’t possess the skills and training to capitalize on the IT jobs currently available.

The foundation thinks it’s found a solution to the problem. Apprenticeships were a common occurrence throughout history and remain so in certain service industries—plumbers, electricians, etc. The Creating IT Futures Foundation recently announced a program to pilot an IT apprenticeship program in five U.S. cities during 2012.

The philanthropic arm of CompTIA, the foundation is looking for companies in Cincinnati, Houston, Kansas City, San Antonio and Minneapolis/St. Paul to provide apprentice opportunities through its IT-Ready Apprenticeship Program.

IBM Systems Magazine recently sat down with Eaton to find out more about the pilot program and how it might help both companies and unemployed individuals.

Tweet