Dive Brief:
- Workforce projections show a potential crisis in the IT workforce as this generation of teens and people in their early 20s report little interest in such jobs but high expectations for campus tech support.
- According to eCampus News, a recent study by CompTIA, "Managing the Generational Workforce," surveyed more than 1,000 people ages 13 to 24, finding that 21% of those younger than 18 say they are not interested in an IT career, matched by 26% of 18- to 24-year-olds — only 19% of whom say they are interested, which the report says will not be enough.
- Some colleges and universities are working to foster interest in the field among their students, including Ohio State University, which is partnering with Hyland Software for internships, and Georgia Southern University, whose campus bookstore’s partnership with a mobile repair company featured special classes for students.
Dive Insight:
The steps that colleges and universities take to make certain degree programs more rewarding for students matter. Many students arrive on campus with undecided majors. They don’t know how they want their careers to start. While the latest CompTIA research is discouraging for the IT field, including CIOs in higher education who already have a hard time staffing their departments, there is certainly time to help young students decide on computer science.
Part of the challenge will be offering more realistic depictions of what an IT career looks like. According to the report, Generation Z thinks IT roles are deeply technical, but hiring managers are increasingly looking for people who can fulfill soft skills that are necessary in our new, service-oriented world.