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Press ReleasesJan 16, 2018

Partner4Work and Google help bridge the digital divide through IT training program

PITTSBURGH (January 16, 2018) —Partner4Work, the workforce development organization for the Pittsburgh area, is teaming up with the charitable arm of Google to expand access to IT careers to those underrepresented in the technology industry. As a Google.org nonprofit grantee, Partner4Work will provide access to 100 scholarships to train young adults with the skills needed to begin an IT career. Google will confer an IT Support Professional Certificate to those who successfully complete the program.

“With support from Google, we’re thrilled to expand the portfolio of opportunities available to build the region’s IT talent pipeline,” said Debra L. Caplan, Partner4Work Interim CEO. “In collaboration with our partners at Auberle and PHASE 4 Learning Center, 100 young adults will receive the training and support they need to qualify for entry-level IT jobs and help keep our region’s businesses and the economy growing for years to come.”

Partner4Work will provide scholarships to 50 in-school and out-of-school youth in 2018, followed by an additional 50 the following year. They are among 7,500 people from underserved communities nationwide that will have free access to the interactive certificate program through scholarships and financial assistance.

The IT Support Professional Certificate joins Partner4Work’s ongoing efforts to expand the talent pool for IT jobs in the Pittsburgh area, through TechHire Pittsburgh trainings, microcredentials, and youth STEM and career exploration activities.

IT support jobs are in demand nationally and in the Pittsburgh area. Partner4Work projects demand for computer user support specialists in the Pittsburgh area will increase by 8 percent by 2027. The current median hourly wage for this type of job in the Pittsburgh area is $22.75.

While the majority of IT support positions do not require a college degree, they do require prior experience. Google developed the IT Support Professional Certificate, taught through Coursera, to prepare participants to be job-ready in eight to 12 months. This program does not require prior experience to enroll.

To learn more about the IT Support Professional Certificate, which begins January 23, visit https://www.coursera.org/specializations/google-it-support.

About Partner4Work

Nationally recognized for innovation, Partner4Work delivers workforce solutions for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to ensure the current and future needs of businesses and job seekers are met. As stewards of more than $25 million in public and private workforce funds, Partner4Work oversees and funds workforce programs for adults, dislocated workers, and youth; educates the community through robust labor market analytics; and implements innovative solutions to the region's systemic workforce challenges. Partner4Work bridges the gap between people looking for work and companies in need of talent. More information is available at www.partner4work.org.