Closing out the newsletter, this month our industry spotlight focuses on Information & Communication Technologies/Digital Media (ICT/DM). Thank you, to Richard Grotegut, Olivia Herriford and Ray Kaupp, the San Francisco Bay Regional Directors for ICT/DM, who shared a few thoughts on their view of how the sector has been impacted during this time.
What comprises the Information & Communication Technologies/Digital Media (ICT/DM) sectors in the Bay Region?
Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) college programs prepare students for jobs in every type of industry. The tech industry itself employs around 20% of all Bay Area ICT workers. Plus, virtually every organization—private and public sector—employs workers in ICT roles, including IT and networking support, cybersecurity, software development, business and manufacturing process automation, database development and maintenance, artificial intelligence, and other areas.
Digital Media (DM) programs prepare students for jobs creating the graphic design elements of digital systems. These programs serve at the intersection of visual arts and computer programming, and DM students, like their ICT colleagues, will find employment in both the tech industry and throughout the Bay Area economy.
What is the state of employment in ICT/DM right now?
The ICT/DM sector is characterized by rapid change in the technologies and approaches to management and delivery of information. In addition to continued penetration of digital technologies into every facet of modern life, 3 interrelated areas driving the sector include:
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The amount of data of all types—images, geospatial, personal, transactional, behavioral—is growing exponentially, as well as the need to secure and protect it;
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Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies are increasingly analyzing data and directing applications; and
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Cloud computing—where data and applications are “virtualized” on Internet-accessible servers operating remotely from where the users sit—is becoming the standard methodology for developing and deploying technology solutions.
Our instructional programs are challenged to keep up with the pace of change in this sector.
What employers (or types of employers) are hiring right now? What occupations are in demand?
Demand remains strong in the ICT sector, as organizations increasingly turn to technology solutions to deal with disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Customer relationship management systems like Salesforce, online meeting services like Zoom, cloud-based IT support systems, the growing threat of cyber crime, and increased consumer adoption of online commerce are all driving demand for ICT workers of all kinds.
What are some strategies the ICT/DM sector is taking to help train students or re-train workers?
Technical competence that can be validated and demonstrated is often the key to a developing career in the ICT/DM sector. And the relevant technologies are constantly evolving.
One key strategy to address this issue is to encourage and support instructional programs that lead to industry-recognized certifications. We are also working more closely with regional employers to ensure we are preparing students for the work that needs to be done.
Can you tell us about some projects you are working on with schools/colleges?
Professional development for faculty is a significant aspect of what we do in the sector. For example, we are just finishing up the 6th annual ICT Educators Winter Conference. For more details, visit here.
We’re also working with colleges to deliver short-duration reskilling programs for workers displaced by the Covid-19 pandemic. Visit here for more information.
To make sure we know what employers are looking for, we’re using the Business & Industry Leadership Team (BILT) approach to flip the orientation of our industry advisory panels, so that industry is in the lead. BILT was developed by the National Convergence Technology Center, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). More details can be found here.