This post is written by CompTIA, a Diamond Level sponsor of the 2019 Advance CTE Spring Meeting.
The World Economic Forum estimates that 65 percent of students today will ultimately be working in jobs that don’t currently exist. That may be an alarming statistic for any person entering the workforce, but reading between the lines, this is a reminder for employers in all sectors that transferable skills and the right training are more important than ever, because jobs are evolving. Smart employers look to a candidate’s career and technical education experience, along with industry-standard certifications, like CompTIA’s, for reassurance.
As we look to future-proof student’s careers, it’s important to evaluate what skills are needed, as well as understand the labor market and predicted opportunity for the future.
The technology industry in the U.S. alone is anticipated to grow by 4 percent in 2019, according to CompTIA’s Industry Outlook Report. Also consider that technology is now a part of the fabric of every organization. Digital transformation is giving rise to a growing demand for IT talent not only in the IT sector, but for varied career pathways within all organizations. Hiring managers in manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and automotive, cannot find enough employees with the required skills and competencies to fill their IT job roles. The CompTIA 2019 CyberStates (cyberstates.org) research found that nearly half of IT jobs are in non-tech companies.
Another factor that makes an IT career pathway promising is the increased demand for Cybersecurity talent. With data breaches expected to rise globally to nearly $6 trillion dollars in 2021, the number of jobs in cybersecurity are expected to increase by 56% percent within the next 3 years.
With so much opportunity to develop in-demand tech skills and meaningful IT and cybersecurity careers, CompTIA works with State and Local CTE leaders to deliver IT career pathway programs.
As the non-profit association for the tech industry, CompTIA develops certifications for IT professionals. Certifications are mapped to specific job roles and updated by in-the-field experts, who are in touch with the emerging competencies required. Another hallmark of CompTIA’s certifications is that they are performance-based, recognizing that it’s not just about “what you know” but “what you can do”. Having CompTIA certifications signals that you have both knowledge and problem-solving ability, which translates into career success.
CompTIA Career Pathway
Learn More:
We invite you to learn more during the Advance CTE conference. Included in your Advance CTE Spring Meeting bag are additional materials for you to review. You may also visit with us during the State Director Networking Reception or stop by our exhibit. To reach our team, email us at academy@comptia.org