Building Pathways to Prosperity

The tech industry has faced significant changes over the last few years, from the swift rise of AI to shifting workforce needs and efforts to increase diversity. Tech bootcamps and similar upskilling programs must adapt to keep up, and Tech Impact offers a compelling case study for how to meet the needs of tech employers and workers alike.

Tech Impact provides comprehensive workforce development programs such as ITWorks, a 16-week course offered in Philadelphia, Delaware, and Las Vegas that prepares unemployed or underemployed 18-to-26-year-olds for entry-level IT careers without requiring a degree. Seventy percent of participants come from low-to-moderate income backgrounds, and 80% are women or people of color.

The organization learned there was a need for IT professionals to gain mid-level skills in order to advance in their careers. This was backed by employment data, which revealed a high demand but low supply of talent for the cybersecurity field. Employers emphasized the importance of foundational IT experience before moving into cybersecurity roles, underscoring the need for a structured career pathway.

“We heard time and time again that, even in entry-level roles, cybersecurity jobs require IT experience,” said Heidi Erpelding-Welch, Chief Program Officer at Tech Impact. “Working with our advisory boards and our students, we took a different approach than most training providers with a staggered program design.”

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https://www.gitlabfoundation.org/our-journey/building-pathways-to-prosperity