(TNS) — Although unemployment is at an all-time low, the tech industry talent shortage persists. According to an HCA survey, 92% of tech industry leaders are struggling to find skilled talent, and nearly 6 in 10 expect a lack of applicants with the necessary skill sets to support critical initiatives to be a major hiring challenge.
The talent shortage has led to only 65 of every 100 open positions being filled, Gaper said. But despite this apparent talent shortage, young Americans aren't flocking to college to get the training they need to fill the gap. That's because the tech talent gap coincides with the lowest college enrollment numbers in recent history.
Not everyone can afford the ever-increasing tuition costs of a college degree, nor are they ready to take on huge amounts of debt to pursue an education. As a result, young Americans are looking to non-traditional avenues to gain technical credentials.
Take online and specialized courses
While traditional education has well-established benefits, guided online and specialized courses cut out the red tape and generalizations and go directly to the heart of learning, providing students with the practical skills they need to carry out tasks in the workplace.
Thankfully, these educational methods are usually cheaper than most university tuition fees, and there are plenty of options, whatever your specialty. Platforms like Udemy and Coursera offer a wide range of self-paced digital video courses for a variety of skill levels, whether you're just getting started in tech, transitioning into a different specialty, or upskilling to secure a bigger role.
Big companies like Microsoft and Google are also getting in on the action. The tech giants have a number of carefully curated beginner and advanced courses for beginners. They also recently released free beginner courses aimed at newcomers and those looking to get into artificial intelligence.
Home Study Options
Aside from self-paced learning options, there are also more streamlined, focused, and career-aligned options that are a bit different because they are structured like a university degree but with the flexibility to study from home. These platforms offer access to qualified tutors and mentors to guide you through your learning journey, as well as professional certificates to prove it.
Platforms like UTS Online fall into this category. UTS Online is an online school that offers graduate certificate and master's programs in a variety of fields, from advanced nursing and public health to business analytics, digital marketing, strategic communication, and more. UTS Online also offers business consulting certificate programs in partnership with top companies like Microsoft and Avanade.
These specialized programs offer the benefits of traditional schools, including live networking with qualified instructors and mentors, all from the comfort of your home. Instead of spending four years at a university to earn a technical degree, these platforms offer the option to earn a certification in record time. The streamlined nature of these platforms ensures that students don't spend a lot of time and money on courses and programs that are not useful in real-life scenarios.
Participate in an apprenticeship or internship program
Taking an online course or certification program is one thing, but putting it into a real job is another. That's why apprenticeships are so important. Well-structured apprenticeships are becoming increasingly popular in the tech industry as a way to prepare tech talent to start their careers. These apprenticeships often start as internships that offer a path to full-time employment.
Internships and apprenticeships typically last anywhere from a few months to a few years. However, because interns are often expected to have some knowledge and experience in the field, it is not uncommon for young Americans to participate in accelerated learning programs such as bootcamps hosted by the tech organizations themselves or their affiliates. These bootcamps also serve as a pathway to internship opportunities and ultimately full-time employment.
In a world where interest in traditional education is rapidly declining and the technology environment is rapidly evolving, a shortage of tech talent is always inevitable, but perhaps these non-traditional routes will soon see America's tech sector reach its full potential.
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