GCP Launches Apprenticeship Partnership to Build Tech Talent

September 27, 2021

Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) announced today during its annual Tech Week conference that it is partnering with Apprenti, a nationally recognized program intermediary, to launch tech apprenticeships designed to build an abundant and inclusive tech talent pipeline in the Cleveland region.

“For years, Cleveland has had strong demand for IT employees that far exceeds the currently available talent pool,” said Shana Marbury, Senior Vice President of Talent at GCP. “Registered Apprenticeships are a proven earn and learn strategy that is wildly underused for tech careers.  By partnering with Apprenti, we are able to leverage their expertise on behalf of workers and employers to uniquely address this gap and, ultimately, help us grow prosperity in this region.”

The IT workforce in greater Cleveland, which encompasses an 18-county region, grew 18 percent from 39,500 to 47,000 from 2016 to 2019, according to the 2020 Region’s IT Workforce Alliance Talent Bulletin. However, the Bulletin also noted that demand for tech talent averages over 14,000 positions, and IT credentials issued by local institutions (3,300) were much lower than the number of open entry-level positions (7,700).

At a median salary of $69,000, filling a third of these open roles would generate over $345 million in annual payroll.

A national model used in cities around the country, Apprenti creates an efficient path to qualified and certified tech talent through Registered Apprenticeships. Cleveland will be the third city in Ohio to run a program. In recent years, Columbus and Cincinnati launched Apprenti.

Apprenti’s strategies are aligned with GCP’s role in leading the Workforce Connect IT Sector Partnership. Last year, the Cuyahoga County Workforce Funders Group, a public-private partnership to support workforce system realignment, chose GCP to serve as the convener for the IT Sector Partnership. GCP brings together employers and workforce providers to build a diverse, highly skilled IT talent pipeline for an industry critical to our region and employers in need of talent.

Companies that are interested in learning more and participating in Cleveland’s program are encouraged to reach out to GCP by emailing [email protected] or calling 216-592-2235. Participants will get access to potential funding for training programs, as well as technical support and administrative support in executing apprenticeships for IT roles.

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About Greater Cleveland Partnership
Greater Cleveland Partnership is the region’s leading economic development organization and with more than 12,000 members, the largest metropolitan chamber of commerce in the nation. Our mission is accelerating growth and prosperity towards a thriving region for all businesses and individuals. To learn more, visit www.greatercle.com.

About Apprenti
WTIA Workforce Institute (dba Apprenti) is a 501(c)3 non-profit, delivering registered apprenticeship programs to bridge the tech talent and diversity gaps. By adapting the time-tested model of apprenticeship, Apprenti helps employers meet evolving workforce needs and trains future tech workers with an emphasis on underrepresented groups including women, people of color, veterans, and people with disabilities. Apprenti’s programs are industry recognized and federally approved for employers with tech talent needs across the United States. Apprentices receive two to five months of full-time, industry recognized training, then begin one-year of paid on-the-job training with one of the program’s hiring partners. Apprenti is partially funded through a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) contract, as well as other funders nationwide. For more information on how to apply, donate, or become a hiring partner, please visit www.ApprentiCareers.org.