Microsoft is constantly investing in new technologies, but also in people. We often come together with the City of New York to foster continued progress in the tech sector. Many of our shared ventures support education and job skills to help bridge the opportunity divide. In addition to propelling STEM education and computer science in schools, we support tech talent in the workplace through internship programs, commitments to hiring, scholarships, and more. That’s why we’re pleased to have joined Mayor Bill de Blasio today in announcing the Microsoft NYC Tech Jobs Academy, as part of the NYC Tech Talent Pipeline initiative. Announced by the Mayor in May 2014, the Tech Talent Pipeline is a first-of-its-kind, $10 million public-private partnership designed to support the growth of the City’s tech ecosystem and prepare New Yorkers for 21st century jobs. In the pilot stage, we are partnering with the City University of New York (CUNY) to gather at least 25 young adult learners and empower them, through an intensive program, with new skills that will allow them to enter the tech sector and build successful long-lasting careers.
The NYC Tech Jobs Academy builds on Microsoft’s experience designing and delivering an intensive program for people leaving the military. These accelerated learning programs focus on building expertise relevant to key tech trends such as big data and cloud computing and the skills individuals need to succeed in highly-collaborative tech workplace environments. For New York, we are identifying the top job skills most-needed by 3,000 partner companies in the area and providing a full-time curriculum to deliver these skills in a matter of months, not years. Through this program, students will be empowered with real-world tech career skills, and the tech sector will get access to the fresh, job-ready talent it needs.
Microsoft is committed to improving education outcomes and helping young people in New York City do more and achieve more. In addition to this new pilot program, we fulfill that commitment every day through the more than 30 free programs and partnerships that make up the Microsoft YouthSpark initiative. As the Mayor pointed out today, there is great opportunity for us to work together for impact. Though the city’s technology ecosystem represents nearly 300,000 jobs, businesses are still struggling to find qualified talent to fill open positions. For young people today, NYC tech jobs represent real economic opportunity and earn 49% more than the average hourly wage in the city.
We understand that New York’s greatest resource is our people. It is their intelligence, determination and teamwork that will form the backbone of the NYC Tech Talent Pipeline. We are committed to this community and proud to work with the City to create brighter futures. Our announcement today is testament to that fact. Find out more about the Microsoft NYC Tech Jobs Academy and our partnerships with the City of New York and CUNY by reading the Crain’s article here.
