CompTIA ChannelCon 2019 Opens with Discussions on Tech Workforce Challenges
New recruitment strategies needed to address the industry's employment needs
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid discussions about smart cities, the Internet of Things, blockchain, drones, and other innovations speakers at CompTIA ChannelCon 2019 on Monday stressed the critical need to attract more workers and build new skills among current tech professionals to meet the industry's current and future employment needs.
Hosted annually by CompTIA, the leading trade association for the technology industry, ChannelCon is the industry's premier conference for education, networking and partnering. It continues through August 7.
"We have to focus on getting hiring managers to truly understand what is going on today," said Aaron Woods, principal consultant with CEX Services, LLC. "What they knew and did 15 or 20 years ago is not relevant today."
Woods spoke during a panel session on "The IT Workforce of 2026." Panelists agreed that changes need to be made in the way employers recruit new workers, and where they are looking for that talent.
"All people have intrinsic value to your organization," said Sue Krautbauer, senior vice president for sales and marketing at Techadox.
She noted that a growing number of American workers are freelancers, independent contractor, gig economy workers, or rely on some other another alternate work arrangement.
"The idea of being their own business is temperature normal for younger workers," Krautbauer said.
Failing to adapt to this changing environment can be problematic for companies in tech, as well as employers in other industries who increasingly rely on technologies to run their businesses.
Through the first six months of 2019 U.S. tech sector employment grew by an estimated 56,400 positions. But employers across the country continue to advertise for open tech positions in the tens of thousands; more than 200,000 in July alone.1
One solution to the workforce crunch that's gaining some traction is to let people know that there are rewarding, well-paying careers in technology that do not require a four-year college degree.
"We're waking up to realize that there are other means to get educated and get started in this industry," said Carolyn April, senior director, industry research, CompTIA.
"We also have to educate our kids that getting into technology is not a straight line to working for a technology company," April said, noting that every industry relies on technology workers.
"Parents need to change the way we view the path to success," Krautbauer added.
ChannelCon 2019 continues Tuesday with CompTIA's State of the Industry address; keynote remarks from cybersecurity expert Eric O'Neill; and other programming on the challenges, issues and opportunities shaping the tech industry. For the latest information from the conference visit the ChannelCon Virtual Press Office and at https://twitter.com/hashtag/channelcon.
About CompTIA
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the more than 50 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. www.comptia.org.
Contact:
Steven Ostrowski
CompTIA
+1 (630) 678-8468
[email protected]
1 CompTIA IT Employment Tracker, August 2019
SOURCE CompTIA
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