CompTIA Applauds President Obama's State of the Union Address that Focuses on Job Preparedness, Creation and Retention

IT Industry, Small and Medium-Sized IT Firms Key Engine to Positive Outcome

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement about President Barack Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday evening was issued by CompTIA President and Chief Executive Officer Todd Thibodeaux.

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"Each year we turn to the State of the Union as a blueprint of our nation's aspirations. This year we welcome the focus of the Administration on the relationship of job preparedness, creation and retention to our knowledge-based economy. The information technology (IT) industry and small and medium-sized IT firms in particular, can be a key engine for these outcomes. 

"High skilled immigration is an important component to this mission. Retaining the best and brightest foreign students here in the U.S. will help this country lead in building the next generation of innovative products and services leading to new jobs and generating economic strength.

"CompTIA is particularly invested, however, in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, but with a particular emphasis on the role of career and technical education. We have a skills gap in this country and it is not just a gap related to computer sciences.

"We must ensure that young people have access to career and technical education; can get industry-recognized certifications; and have the choice to gain a great job in technology after high school graduation or pursue higher education in STEM fields. We need to feed conversations and partnerships between public institutions and private companies so that technical education matches the skills and certifications needed by new market trends and job vacancies."

About TechVoice
TechVoice is a partnership of CompTIA, the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) and participating regional technology associations. Collectively, it represents thousands of technology companies across the country employing millions of workers. TechVoice is dedicated to empowering and mobilizing the grassroots tech community to impact legislative and regulatory issues important to growth, innovation and job creation.

About CompTIA 
CompTIA is the voice of the world's information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. Visit http://www.comptia.org/home.aspx or follow CompTIA at http://www.facebook.com/CompTIA and twitter.com/comptia.

SOURCE CompTIA