Silicon Valley NOVA WIB TechLadders Research

I am pleased to report that the Silicon Valley NOVA Workforce Investment Board is entering an exciting new phase of its TechLadder project. As you may recall, TechLadder is promoting access, inclusion, career advancement and economic self-sufficiency for workers in occupations requiring Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) skills. NOVA and the non-profit Economic Advancement Research Institute are leading this initiative.

Next week we will begin career pathways research to better understand career success factors for ICT workers. We will focus on career navigation and seek to learn how and why tech workers move from job to job and career to career, how they employ personal and institutional networks, how they access training and educational resources and how they access labor market information.

Our goal is to conduct a series of online surveys and personal interviews to gain career navigation "collective wisdom" and apply that knowledge to developing programs enabling entry-level and lower skill workers to advance along ICT career ladders.

Would you be willing to participate in a short online survey and/or interview with San Jose State University graduate students?

If so, please let me know your general availability over the next few weeks.

Thanks!!

Luther Jackson
Program Manager
NOVA Workforce Development
408-730-7832 (w)
ljackson@novaworks.org 

 

 

FACT SHEET

Goals

·       Expand access to career ladders at all tech-related skill levels

·       Enhance regional economic competitiveness by preparing talented professionals to fill critical skill gaps

·       Promote a more inclusive tech workforce at all skill levels

·       Foster family economic self-sufficiency

Description

TechLadder is promoting access, inclusion, career advancement and economic self-sufficiency for workers in all occupations requiring Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) skills, while leveraging the strategic advantages of Silicon Valley’s knowledge-based economy.   

 

The initiative will illuminate career pathways that enable entry-level and lower skill workers to advance along career ladders, providing more value to their communities and employers. Target populations will include members of underrepresented groups and low-wage, low-skill workers.

Phases

·       Career pathways research to understand career success factors for tech workers. (Beginning immediately)

·       Demand-side research on industry skill requirements, supply-side research on the existing tech labor pool and an assessment of similar career ladder initiatives.

·       Implementation:  Replicating career success factors for target populations including support for technical, non-technical and career navigation skills.

Supporters

·       NOVA Workforce Development, Silicon Valley workforce board

·       Economic Advancement Research Institute, non-profit think tank

·       Creating IT Futures Foundation, philanthropic arm of CompTIA

·       Cisco Systems, global networking company

·       The Stride Center, non-profit promoting tech career access 

·       San Jose State University program in applied anthropology

Contact:  Luther Jackson, NOVA Workforce Development, ljackson@novaworks.org