Arizona Technology Council, Partnership for Economic Innovation and Pipeline AZ Collaborate to Solve Arizona's Tech-Talent Shortage

PHOENIX - EntSun -- The Arizona Technology Council, in collaboration with Pipeline AZ and the Partnership for Economic Innovation, today launched the Arizona IT/Cyber Career Network, a scalable, online platform that connects employers with technology talent in the state's IT and cybersecurity sector. A unique way to address Arizona's tech-talent deficit, the IT/Cyber Career Network aims to transform how companies recruit in the Grand Canyon State. The IT/Cyber Career Network platform can be found at www.ITCyberCareers.com.

"The IT/Cyber Career Network is the most comprehensive resource for anyone in Arizona looking to start or build upon a career in the technology space," said Steven G. Zylstra, the Council's president and CEO. "It also offers an innovative solution for Arizona companies to hire skilled workers to fight cybercrime and protect data. Although cybersecurity and IT talent gaps exist across the country, Arizona's fight against the tech-talent shortage is at a critical point. Closing these gaps amid a tight market for tech talent required a different approach."

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"This new talent pipeline platform is one way we're investing in Arizona's tech economy," said Mary Foote, managing director at Pipeline AZ and director of industry engagement at Partnership for Economic Innovation. "With unlimited job postings, community-spanning learning initiatives and skills-mapping technology that matches candidates to the right opportunities, the IT/Cyber Career Network is a one-stop destination for both job seekers and tech recruiters."

According to Cyberstates 2021, an in-depth report compiled by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), Arizona ranked eighth in IT job growth in 2020 and added 2,547 IT/cyber jobs.[1] Valley employers posted an additional 4,394 tech jobs from the first quarter of 2021 to the second, representing a 26% increase.[2] However, a severe shortage of technology workers in general—a problem even more acute for specific IT and cybersecurity skillsets—could ultimately hinder the region's technology industry and impede economic growth. The IT/Cyber Career Network platform serves students, job seekers and employers by acting as a navigation guide to career pathways in IT and cybersecurity across the state.

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"Finding qualified IT talent to meet our growing demand is one of the last key hurdles for Arizona's technology ecosystem," said Sonny Varadan, chief information officer, Sonora Quest Laboratories. "The establishment of the IT/Cyber Career Network will provide an enormous boost to our economy, be a tremendous help in clearing the cyber talent acquisition hurdle and help take many organizations in our state to the next level."

"In the current landscape, IT and cybersecurity talent is a more pressing need than ever before," said Wes Hummel, vice president of site reliability and cloud engineering, PayPal. "The pandemic and the rapid pace of technology moving everything into a digital environment make innovative solutions like the IT/Cyber Career Network so critical to thousands of organizations whether they're involved in technology or not."

The Arizona IT/Cyber Career Network is currently offering three tiers of access: a free option that includes basic features, a tier of service offerings designed exclusively for Arizona Technology Council members and a premium service designed for company sponsors eager to fill their job openings. To learn more about the Arizona IT/Cyber Career Network platform, please visit www.aztechcouncil.org/tech-talent-hiring-portal.

[1] CompTIA Cyberstates 2021; https://www.cyberstates.org/pdf/CompTIA_Cyberstates_2021.pdf

[2] Tech is booming in Phoenix, but filling thousands of open jobs proves difficult; Phoenix Business Journal; July 2021; https://bit.ly/2XO9Ahf