CEG, SUNY Schenectady and Albany Can Code Advance Software Developer Apprenticeships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALBANY, NEW YORK – The Capital Region’s first software developer apprenticeship program is being established through a partnership between the Center for Economic Growth (CEG), SUNY Schenectady County Community College (SUNY Schenectady) and Albany Can Code, Inc.
With there being more annual job openings for software developers and programmers than any other STEM occupation in the Capital Region, this new apprenticeship will help local employers internally recruit workers for hard-to-fill, mid-level talent positions. In 2018, there were 6,504 software developers and programmers in the eight-county region, as well as 584 annual job openings, according to data from EMSI.
Troy Web Consulting, the Jahnel Group and MVP Health Care will be the region’s first businesses to train software developers under the apprenticeship program, which is scheduled to launch in summer.
“When employers embrace apprenticeships and help their employees hone their skills and reach their potential, the businesses reap the same benefits. The Capital Region’s software development industry is already thriving, and this new apprenticeship program will help it do so even more,” said CEG President and CEO Andrew Kennedy.
“MVP Health Care is so proud to be one of the first corporations to participate in this exciting, mutually beneficial partnership,” said Michael Della Villa, MVP’s senior leader for information technology and transformation service. “Bringing local talent to MVP through the apprenticeship program, will help to develop new professionals who want to join an emerging workforce, while at the same time, investing and giving back to the Schenectady community. We applaud CEG, SUNY Schenectady, and Albany Can Code for the work they do to highlight the importance of software development in this growing field.”
Administrative Support
Under the Capital Region program, CEG will serve as a group sponsor between participating companies and NYS DOL, which regulates apprenticeships statewide. CEG will manage the DOL-required reporting and organize each apprentice’s outside coursework. For small and mid-size firms, these requirements often make apprenticeships prohibitive. Last year with the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), CEG launched a similar apprenticeship program for manufacturers called the Capital Region Manufacturing Intermediary Apprenticeship Program.
“The Jahnel Group is very excited to be a part of the software developer apprenticeship program. We’ve built our company by cultivating local talent and believe that the new apprenticeship program will allow us to multiply our efforts even further. We’re grateful to the amazing team at Albany Can Code for helping some of our young people level up,” said Jahnel Group CEO Darrin Jahnel.
“Partnering with CEG, Albany Can Code and SUNY Schenectady was an easy decision for us to make,” said Jon Briccetti, CEO of Troy Web Consulting. “Ensuring that both on-the-job training and classroom instruction would be provided to local developers is a critical step in allowing our area to attract and retain highly qualified employees for our ever growing industry.”
The Program
Software developer apprentices will undergo 1,000 to 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of related instruction provided by Albany Can Code at SUNY Schenectady. For workers in a variety of fields, apprenticeships are pathways to higher-paying jobs. Whereas the average entry-level annual wage for a software develop in the region is $59,000, the experienced average annual wage is $96,000, according to EMSI1. Employers interested in participating in the software developer apprenticeship should contact CEG Director of Economic Development Services Amanda Vitullo at amandav@ceg.org.
“We are thrilled to work with the Center for Economic Growth, SUNY Schenectady and these fantastic employers to expand Software Development Apprenticeships in New York State,” said Annmarie Lanesey, CEO of Albany Can Code. “It is exciting to see individuals changing not only their careers, but their lives, as a result of education and training. We look forward to serving both individuals and Capital Region employers in what is truly a win-win endeavor.”
“Apprenticeship is a virtuous cycle for students and employers alike,” said Dr. Steady Moono, President of SUNY Schenectady. “In an apprenticeship program, students can apply classroom-based instruction on the job immediately and bring that experience back into the classroom. It sets our students and their employers on a path to success.”
Notes
1 Entry-level = bottom 25 percent; experienced = top 75 percent
About CEG
The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) is the Capital Region’s primary regional economic development organization, with over 250 investors in business, government, education, and the not-for-profit sectors. CEG is a New York Empire State Development Division of Science, Technology and Innovation-designated Regional Technology Development Center and an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). For more information, visit www.ceg.org.
About Albany Can Code, Inc.
A 501(c)3 not for profit founded in 2016, Albany Can Code develops non-traditional talent and advocates for a vibrant, inclusive tech talent pipeline in the Capital Region. Albany Can Code designs and delivers workforce training courses, hands-on K12 coding programs, and community digital literacy workshops, in alignment with the needs of employers, educators, talent and the community in general. The mission is to shift mindset about who can work in technology, remove cultural and economic barriers to joining the tech workforce, and establish and promote pathways to tech careers throughout the region. For more information, visit www.albanycancode.org.
About MVP Health Care
MVP Health Care is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit health insurer caring for more than 700,000 members in New York and Vermont. Committed to the complete well-being of our members and the communities we serve, MVP makes health insurance more convenient, more supportive, and more personal. For more information, visit www.mvphealthcare.com, or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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