Chicago's Largest Employers Join Forces to Tackle Tech Industry Challenges

Strategic Insights -

Chicago's largest employers are teaming up with the University of Illinois' Discovery Partners Institute to launch a one-year software apprenticeship program, aiming to address the city's shortage of tech talent and inequality of opportunity. The project, led by P33, a corporate and civic group focused on growing Chicago's tech industry, will provide apprenticeships to reskill workers and fill the estimated 161,000 unfilled tech jobs in the Chicago area. The apprenticeship program is part of a broader job-training effort by Good Jobs Chicago, which received an $18.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Key Takeaways:

  • Chicago's largest employers, including United Airlines, JPMorgan Chase, and Accenture, are teaming up to launch a one-year software apprenticeship program to tackle the city's tech talent shortage and inequality of opportunity.
  • The program is expected to launch in the fall, with the first apprentices starting in the program.
  • Good Jobs Chicago, a job-training effort, has received an $18.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to focus on reskilling workers to fill jobs.
  • There are an estimated 161,000 unfilled tech jobs in the Chicago area, despite mounting layoffs at some companies.
  • The apprenticeship program is expected to provide opportunities for workers, especially those in poorer communities, to access high-paying jobs with benefits.
  • Only 14% of the local tech workforce is made up of Black and Latino workers.
  • The companies involved in the apprenticeship program have committed to rethinking hiring practices, such as requiring four-year college degrees for entry-level jobs.
  • Accenture has used apprenticeships successfully for several years, with over 2,000 apprentices in 40 cities since 2016.
  • United has hired entry-level tech workers through partnerships with I.C. Stars and Year Up, training programs that focus on workers who have been left out of the traditional talent pipeline.
  • The airline has hired entry-level employees for data analyst, cybersecurity, software engineering, and other jobs for several years.

Statistics:

  • 161,000: estimated number of unfilled tech jobs in the Chicago area
  • 14%: estimated percentage of the local tech workforce made up of Black and Latino workers
  • 2,000: number of apprentices Accenture has had in 40 cities since 2016
  • 2016: year Accenture started its apprenticeship program
  • 40: number of cities where Accenture has had apprenticeships
  • 20%: percentage of Accenture's entry-level hires in the U.S. last year who were apprentices
  • 50: number of interns from universities United typically has each year
  • 20-30: number of apprentices United typically hires each year
  • 6 months: length of time apprentices spend on the job before they're eligible for permanent roles
  • $18.5 million: grant received by Good Jobs Chicago from the U.S. Department of Commerce

Sources:

  • Crain Communications Inc. (2023) "Chicago's largest employers team up to tackle tech talent shortage"
  • P33
  • University of Illinois' Discovery Partners Institute
  • Good Jobs Chicago
  • U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Accenture
  • United Airlines
  • I.C. Stars
  • Year Up