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ICT: Information and Communication Technology Skills. What are they? Why do they matter for employers, job seekers, the economy and life?. Beth B lanchard , WDC S eattle -King C ounty Yvonne T homas, M icrosoft Corp. What is ICT?. Hardware Hard Skills. Software Soft skills.
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ICT: Information and Communication Technology Skills What are they? Why do they matter for employers, job seekers, the economy and life? Beth Blanchard, WDC Seattle-KingCounty YvonneThomas, Microsoft Corp.
What is ICT? • Hardware • Hard Skills • Software • Soft skills
What ICT skills are used at work? SKILLS • Using the internet • Email • Scheduling appointments • Timecards • Spreadsheets • Documents • Presentations • Handheld technology JOBS • Inventory Management • Retail • Transportation logistics • Heavy machinery • Medical transcription • Home healthcare • Administration • Education • Food Service • Agriculture Jobs in Low, Middle and High Skill categories all require knowledge and use of technology
What is the value of ICT skills? • For job seekers? • For employers?
The value of technology skills • Today, more than 50% of all jobs require some use of technology. By 2016, according to the BLS, 77% of all jobs will require ICT skills • Individuals with technology skills earn, on average, $500 more per month than their counterparts without those skills. • As the world and the workplace continues to evolve, technology will become more and more pervasive.
The Needs • Economic need • Significant changes in the workforce • Shortage of skilled workers due to many factors • Continuing change in the workplace, more technology, more efficiency, more with less • Employer needs • Employees w/training to meet their needs • Basic to intermediate levels of training • Employees with ability to use critical thinking and apply their skills in many ways • Job seeker needs • Training that matches employer needs • Lifelong learning/continuing ed opportunities • Short and long term trainings • Training and certification options
Statewide Existing Resources • WDCs /WorkSource statewide • Microsoft UP/Elevate America participants • Community Colleges • Communities Connect • Free Microsoft Resources, Microsoft Grantees • Elevate America • Curricula • Statewide WDC’s, Boys & Girls Clubs, YM’s, YW’s, Urban League
What are the Resource Gaps/Challenges? • Sustainable funding • Trainers • Knowledge of local employer needs • Availability of training beyond specific program “eligible” customers • OTHERS?
Other action taking place • Recovery Act BTOP funding • Communities Connect and Broadband: Karen Manuel • Washington State: Governor’s Broadband Advisory Council • WIA reauthorization • Timing & impact TBD • UW’s Center for Information and Society’s state research report findings: Technology for employability in Washington State: Role of ICT….
Relevant Resources • Microsoft : • Unlimited Potential www.microsoft.com/giving • Digital Literacy www.microsoft.com/digitalliteracy • Elevate America www.microsoft.com/elevateamerica • NGO Connection (IT resources for nonprofits) www.microsoft.com/ngo • Communities Connect: • Developing statewide applications for funding with ARRA broadband initiative http://communitiesconnect.org/ • UW ICT Report: • WDC of Seattle-King County • ICT State of the Workforce Report http://www.seakingwdc.org/Templates/documents/sow-it_000.pdf
