Community Colleges' Role in Expanding the Supply of IT Workers

Community Colleges’ Role in Expanding the Supply of IT Workers

No. 2003-01
January 2003
ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges

This 2000 study, conducted by researchers at the Urban Institute on behalf of the U.S. Department of Labor, examined the role of community colleges in expanding the supply of information technology workers. IT enrollment and hiring data were collected from four community colleges across the United States and three high-tech firms in the same metropolitan areas. Interviews were conducted with Deans, IT program chairs and instructors, and career counselors at the four colleges, and with human resources personnel, hiring managers, and project managers at each of the firms. Also, six months of data from the 1994 and 1999 Current Population Surveys were examined. Highlighted here are key findings as they relate to current national patterns in IT employment and the role of community colleges in supplying IT workers.

Which Academic Degrees are Filling IT Jobs?

72 percent of new IT workers between 1994 and 1999 held a B.A. or higher. Only three percent held an A.A. as their highest degree.
While the absolute number of IT workers with an A.A. degree increased, the proportion of IT workers with an A.A. decreased from 1994 to 1999 – from 10.91 to 8.74 percent.
Bachelor’s degree holders accounted for over half of all IT employment growth and over 40 percent of growth among young workers.

The Role of Community Colleges in Supplying IT Workers:

Although data suggest that community colleges undertake a substantial amount of IT training, quantitative analyses indicate that two-year colleges do not send a substantial number of A.A. graduates directly into the IT workforce.
While graduation rates are low, enrollments in community college IT programs are high.
Community colleges contribute to retraining workers who are already in IT jobs, those switching into IT careers mid-life, and those with previous bachelor’s degrees.

This information was reported in ED445703, "The Role of Community Colleges in Expanding the Supply of Information Technology Workers" by Robert Lerman, Stephanie Riegg, and Harold Salzman. A full-text copy of this document may be obtained by contacting ERIC Document Reproduction Services (EDRS), 7420 Fullerton Road, Suite 110, Springfield, VA 22153-2852; or by calling (800) 443-ERIC. This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education under contract number ED-99-CO-0010. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. ERIC EdInfos are in the public domain and may be freely reproduced.

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