Across the 30 largest tech employment markets in the U.S., there are more than 350,000 unfilled tech jobs each month that pay an average of $56,000 a year. 80,000 of these openings do not require a college degree. Yet in the same markets, 2.7 million adults are out of work, and millions more struggle to make ends meet in low-paying jobs. If we can help even a fraction of these individuals unlock their potential to join a thriving tech workforce, then economic conditions will improve for everyone.

PER SCHOLAS creates access to high-growth careers in technology by providing cutting-edge technical instruction and professional development, financial coaching and navigation from MSW-credentialed Learner Support Managers, and career coaching alongside direct connections to employers—all at no cost to our learners. Our Career Accelerator then boosts alumni toward a thriving wage through technical upskilling, continued career development, and networking opportunities. In 2022, we are proud to have supported more than 4,500 learners and alumni on their journeys. And despite the challenging economic challenges of the last few years, we are thrilled to report that of our graduates from 2021, 80% have launched careers earning nearly three times their pre-training wage—a benchmark for success that we know our more recent graduates will certainly attain.

We have been training diverse talent for 28 years, not just because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because we know it makes good business sense. Demand for tech talent remains strong and there are more job openings than there are qualified people to fill them. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2030 more than half of all jobs will require skills in digital technology. By training populations traditionally underrepresented in tech—women, people of color, those for whom college isn’t the right fit—we can help drive economic and social progress for all.

The business of changing lives takes a strong network of partners. We are grateful to the incredible system of support that makes our work possible and fuels our continued expansion. You will read about a few of them in this report, but it would not be possible to thank every donor, every volunteer, every staff member, or alumni who lent a helping hand to a learner taking the next step in their journey. But please know that we see you. Above all, this annual report is the story of what you have helped to make possible.

• TEKsystems has been a leading supporter of this work, and with their national investment, enrollment from women learners has increased from 30% in 2019 to 41% in 2022. Additional learner supports unique to the needs of women learners have helped increase graduation rates from 77% to 83% over the same time period.
• The Women In Tech Workshop Series provides a regular forum for women learners and alumnae to connect, building their networks and mutual agency. Our alumnae and women Advisory Board members curate the content for these workshops, which are facilitated by Per Scholas team members. Many generous funders have fueled essential support for women learners, including Atalanta Project – Black Family Philanthropies, Francine A. LeFrak Foundation, Kate Spade New York Foundation, and S&P Global Foundation.
• The inaugural Tech Women of Color cohort launched in Columbus, OH in July 2022 in partnership with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners. This program will train, certify, and help employ at least 200 women of color by August 2024, diversifying the tech landscape and transforming the lives of learners and their families.
• The 15-week Women in Software Engineering pre-apprenticeship training for women learners launched in the National Capital Region. With support from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau and Employment and Training Administration, Capital One, The Boeing Company, and Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, this program will train 75 women over 2 years.
• The expansion of remote training opportunities has made our training more accessible—particularly for female technologists, who make up nearly half of learners enrolled in remote training. The added flexibility of this format allows learners with caretaking responsibilities (often women) to participate in training where an in-person cohort might not be possible.

• Per Scholas St. Louis was born in 2022 out of a partnership with Cortex Innovation Community, as part of a strategy to accelerate inclusive economic growth in the region. The launch was made possible by generous contributions from The Bellwether Foundation, The Kemper Foundation, and Bank of America.
• A partnership with Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana enabled us to launch Per Scholas Indianapolis in 2023 at Goodwill’s headquarters, with financial support provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc., Comcast NBCUniversal, and Salesforce. 
• Per Scholas Houston is our newest campus, launched in partnership with Ion District and Rice University. In addition to Ion selecting and investing in Per Scholas as the District’s workforce development partner, Per Scholas Houston has received generous support from BlackRock and Comcast NBCUniversal. 
• Since launching in October 2021, Per Scholas New York’s satellite model, offered in partnership with Commonpoint Queens, JCC of Staten Island, Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, and Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, has enrolled more than 250 learners across all 5 boroughs. 86% of learners graduated, and will earn $4M in first-year wages.