If you're a systems software specialist looking for a good job in your field, you're in luck. More than one-third of California’s unfilled public-sector tech jobs are specialists who are not managers, according to the California Department of Human Resources.
If you aren’t a systems software specialist, there are still about 225 unfilled IT jobs with the state.
And the number of open positions is only expected to grow as today's IT workforce begins moving toward retirement.
In response to the increasing number of unfilled IT jobs in both the public and private sectors, schools and local governments have created work pipelines and mentorship programs. Here's a look at a few in the state:
San Diego
The San Diego mayor’s office runs a program called San Diego 100, which is a partnership between the city and some companies in the high-tech sector like Qualcomm, Raytheon, General Dynamics and even SeaWorld. The program was put in place to provide individuals in disadvantaged communities an opportunity to learn about and do internships in the tech industry. It has been so successful that it is being expanded throughout the county.
The efforts of the mayor's office have been focused on establishing partners in the high-tech sector and facilitating the transition.
San Diego also has a mentorship program for students who are interested in tech. The students are partnered with engineers, city planners and other government employees in the realm of tech to show them how useful and important tech is for the local city government, and ultimately to get them interested in working for the government.
Sacramento
The city’s Office of Innovation works directly with companies to try to pair a company need’s with skill development. Rails and Creative Economy grants also help businesses with funding for new projects so entrepreneurs can create their own jobs. The county has been known to hold hackathons to solve civic issues for which it does not have IT resources or solutions.
Davis
The city of Davis collaborates with colleges for workforce development through Align Capital Region and the Yolo Workforce Investment Board.
Align teams up the eight counties near the capital on its Community Coefficient online portal, allowing each area to participate in career and college readiness programs.
Yolo Workforce Investment identifies labor market needs and creates solutions for them at the county’s One-Stop Career Centers. These centers also work to place applicants into training and transition unemployed workers into jobs.
The city also reaches out to local startups, accelerators and civic hacker groups.
