UNC Charlotte, SkillStorm partnering to close statewide digital skills gap
UNC Charlotte and SkillStorm, a technology talent accelerator, are joining forces to close skill gaps in the Charlotte region’s fast-growing tech industry. This joint effort will provide North Carolina professionals and employers with access to previously untapped talent pools in an effort to close digital skills gaps that impact their current workforce.
Charlotte, through its School of Professional Studies, will have access to SkillStorm’s unique training platform. Through this platform, UNC Charlotte will offer a range of courses to prepare for a number of technology certifications including AWS Cloud Practitioner, CompTIA Security+ and Salesforce Administrator, as well as foundational courses in core topics like Java and object-oriented programming.
“UNC Charlotte is dedicated to supporting the growth of the region’s tech industry, rooted in our long history of partnering with employers to build bridges between our student community and career opportunities,” said Asher Haines, associate provost for the School of Professional Studies. “As demand for technology skills continues to grow throughout the region, this partnership will enable us to provide tech-focused credential and certification programs that equip workers with the skills that North Carolina’s individuals and employers need most.”
Joe Mitchell, COO at SkillStorm, stated, “UNC Charlotte is shaping the future of work by providing a new pipeline of tech talent for employers throughout the region. This partnership is about enabling businesses in Charlotte’s fast-growing tech industry to accelerate their recruitment efforts, bringing forward workers with the skills to succeed on day one — and, in turn, driving economic growth in Charlotte and beyond.”
According to CompTIA’s State of the Tech Workforce report, the Charlotte metropolitan area is a hub for technology companies and workers; it was ranked the No. 1 tech town in America and No. 7 among all metro markets nationally in terms of total tech jobs added.
Major companies such as Spectrum, Bank of America and Deloitte have expanded their operations to Charlotte alongside a diverse array of startups in fintech, health care and logistics. As a result, career opportunities in the tech sector are plentiful, and demand for skilled talent is only continuing to increase.