According to the Tri-County Workforce Development Board’s research, there are 219 information technology and communication services employers within the local area. There are 3,006 employees within the information technology and communication services industry which counts as 2.26% of our local employment. The industry is showing growth in the region with 222 additional jobs being shown between 2007 and 2008, but has since declined according to the 2017 US Bureau of Labor Statistics report (US Bureau of Labor Statistics) 2017.
Data in the Tri-County region regarding IT / Technology industry and workforce trends, employment / employer numbers, and wage information in the Tri-County area for the purpose of this report, was somewhat limited. Informal verbal feedback from Tri-County IT companies indicate that the local industry struggles with several challenges that include difficulty in finding qualified workers who can truly accomplish job-related tasks. Additionally, potential workers often don’t have accurate, relevant knowledge or an understanding of what level of education, training, and skills are required for jobs in the technology sector as there is a disconnect in communication.
In addition, there are small clusters of IT/Technology employers in each of the three counties. For example, Butler County is home to one of the region’s fastest growing technology companies. Although the company currently has a small workforce, it is expected to grow over the next year by adding people to the team. Drone technology is of interest to many construction firms as the drones map the landscape and provide civil engineers with the resources they need for various projects. However, the larger takeaway from the research indicates that talent from the region is being extracted and brought to the cities - Pittsburgh or Cleveland or elsewhere. Many of the regional skill training providers realize there is a challenge and need to better align with the needs of the regional technology industry.
The Pittsburgh region reflects a disparity of economic opportunity. There is a concentration of high-wage, high skill occupations with relatively low unemployment such as in Information Technology (IT) and Engineering. However, there are also 32,000 long-term unemployed residents, most commonly in occupations such as Production or Administrative Support with slower than average growth prospects. While the region must continue to expand innovation and growth of high-skill roles, it needs to redouble its efforts to address the skill and workforce needs of residents who are not currently on pathways to high-wage jobs (Burning Glass 2015).
The Tri-County Technology Consortium formed in May 2006. The core group of employers and resource partners came together with the mission to strengthen regional businesses engaged in the production and dissemination of information and those that support these services. Goals include the following topics: identifying actions to strengthen information technology in the tri-county region, providing a common voice to address the needs of the industry, supporting members through a common network, supporting other clusters in our area of expertise, attracting other industry to the region by providing a solid base of IT support, working with regional schools, organizations, and government to give mutual support, and notifying regional educational facilities on the need to support our industries. The group’s vision is to be an interactive information and service provider in the three counties by playing the important role of bridging information and training needs of established and emerging companies.
Information Technology Career Pathways and Skill Standards (Graphic Model)
Information Technology Career Pathways and Skill Standards (Descriptive Model)