In a very short time, artificial intelligence has emerged from research labs into our everyday lives. From automating complex analytics to powering new forms of customer interaction, AI has already changed the way we do business. But the most amazing thing about this technology is that we’ve only scratched the surface of its potential.

What will truly usher in the AI era is a new class of tech talent. No matter how sophisticated the algorithms become, there will always be a need for uniquely human skills to make the most of AI. No matter how advanced, technology is simply a tool. Without human creativity, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning, it amounts to nothing more than ones and zeroes.

Per Scholas has spent the last three decades preparing the next generation of talent to unlock technology’s potential. By providing no-cost tech training to aspiring professionals from underrepresented communities, we have helped businesses navigate the industry’s biggest shifts— from IT support and cybersecurity to cloud computing and, now, AI. Here’s a look at how we’re powering the future of tech talent at this critical moment.

Adapting to AI: 30 Years of Agility

Over the past 30 years, our mission at Per Scholas has remained the same: to create equitable access to high-growth tech careers by providing rigorous, no-cost tech training. We believe that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Our model is designed to bridge that gap by connecting skilled tech talent from often-overlooked communities with leading employers.

To keep up with our mission over the decades, we’ve had to adapt to the rapid changes in the tech industry. We navigated the dot-com bubble, the rise of cloud computing, and the cybersecurity arms race. None of these changes was easy to manage, but successfully riding these waves only made us more agile.

Each time, we retooled and reskilled our curriculum to meet the needs of the business market. It’s this commitment to continuous evolution that has prepared us for the next great transformation —the move into the AI era.

Building AI Fluency Into Every Course

To prepare our learners for the modern workforce, AI fluency has become a core component of the Per Scholas curriculum. Every learner, regardless of their specific track, now begins their no-cost tech training with foundational instruction in generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot.

However, this new curriculum goes way beyond writing simple prompts for an AI chatbot. With modules covering essential topics such as how AI systems actually work, learners build fluency with the technology. They understand what AI can do and its current limitations. 

At Per Scholas, we place a heavy emphasis on the ethical use of AI, training our learners to recognize and mitigate potential bias. We also teach our learners how to critically evaluate AI-generated outputs rather than accepting them at face value.

Integrating AI Into Learning Tracks

The foundational AI knowledge our learners gain is then woven directly into our training tracks. This way, our emerging tech talent learns to integrate AI into real-world scenarios properly.

• Cybersecurity: Learners explore how to use AI-driven tools for advanced, real-time threat detection and response, identifying patterns that a human analyst might miss.

• Software engineering: Aspiring developers use AI assistants to write, test, and debug code more efficiently, learning how to partner with the technology to build better applications, faster.
• Data engineering: By leveraging AI, learners unlock the power of predictive analytics and gain deeper insights from complex machine learning models.

By integrating the technology across all of our courses, every Per Scholas alumnus enters the workforce job-ready and future-proof.

Launching AI-Focused Courses and Tools

Beyond making AI fluency a core competency in every Per Scholas course, we have also launched specialized tracks focused on the technology. This suite of courses is geared toward AI-centric careers, including:

• AI Prompt Engineering
• Azure AI Fundamentals
• AI Cloud Practitioner (currently in development)

Of course, we’re also using AI to support learners through our training. The custom-developed Per Scholas AI-powered tools enhance the learner’s journey by providing personalized, real-time assistance. These tools include:

• Azari AI: Our custom chatbot provides learners with real-time help with their coursework and interview practice, available around the clock.
• ResumeBoost: This innovative tool helps learners generate job-ready, professional resumes in minutes, a process that used to take hours.
• AdeptID: We leverage AI to match learners with job postings for their best-fit career paths, analyzing their skills and aptitudes to guide them toward the roles where they are most likely to thrive.

The real-world impact of these tools is undeniable. We have cut resume preparation time from 6 hours down to just 45 minutes and have reduced our learners’ time-to-job-attainment by up to 20%. More importantly, the Per Scholas suite of AI tools has dramatically increased learner confidence and readiness.

Lessons Learned: Humans + AI Outperform

One of the biggest lessons we have learned at Per Scholas over the last 30 years is that technology doesn’t replace people; it enhances them. Although AI can seem human-like, it does nothing to change this principle. Our years of experience only reinforce the fact that the true value of AI is unlocked by skilled tech talent.

We hear the same from our employer partners. Companies aren’t looking for talent that can simply operate an AI-powered tool. Instead, they need tech talent that knows how to use AI critically: those who can ask the right questions, interpret the outputs, spot the flaws, and integrate the technology into a broader business strategy.

This is why the Per Scholas model — which has always blended technical competency with essential human abilities — is more valuable than ever. Our no-cost tech training is built on these foundational skills:

• Critical thinking and a learning mindset.
• Collaboration among various tech teams.
• The adaptability to pivot as technology evolves.
• Communication and the ability to translate complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

As AI continues to advance, so will the Per Scholas curriculum, so that our alumni are always prepared for the next wave of innovation.

The Future of Tech Careers: Opportunities Ahead

One of our primary responsibilities at Per Scholas is to ensure our learners become the tech talent that our employer partners will need next. We’re constantly studying the news and industry developments to ensure the skills our learners gain are relevant to the opportunities available to them. Here’s a look at some of the trends we see now that will shape the future of tech careers:

AI-Driven Roles Are Emerging Now

The World Economic Forum predicts that AI will disrupt nine million jobs in the near future. However, the technology will also create an astounding 11 million jobs, a net positive of 2 million jobs that will need to be filled by 2030.

We are already seeing strong demand for entirely new positions, such as AI prompt engineer, AI-native developer, and AIOps specialist.

Data and Cloud Careers Are Expanding

AI runs on a steady stream of data, and data today lives in the cloud. The boom in AI has supercharged the demand for data and cloud professionals. 

In response, we’ve expanded our no-cost tech training offerings to include tracks such as Data Engineering and Power BI, as well as more foundational courses like Cloud Practitioner.

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Remain Essential

As technology becomes more complex, securing its data becomes more challenging. That’s why we have transformed our courses for traditional IT roles. 

For example, learners in Data Center Technician courses now use AI for predictive maintenance to prevent outages before they happen. In addition, our future Cybersecurity Analysts leverage AI for real-time threat detection,

Tech-Adjacent Roles Are Rising, Too

The AI revolution is impacting more than the highly technical roles. We are seeing tremendous growth in tech-adjacent positions that blend business acumen with AI fluency. 

Positions in Salesforce Administration, ServiceNow, and HR Tech are booming, as these roles require professionals who understand how to use the latest technology to solve business problems.

The Future Is Human + AI Collaboration

The future of work isn’t AI versus humans: it’s humans empowered by AI. Going forward, this will be the new model of productivity, innovation, and career growth. Per Scholas is playing a big role in shaping this future. Our commitment is twofold:

1. To make AI-driven careers accessible to tech talent from every community.
2. To keep our no-cost tech training relevant by evolving our curriculum at the speed of technology.

As we head into the AI era, our mission at Per Scholas is clearer than ever. Whether you’re an aspiring learner who wants to explore our no-cost tech training courses or an employer who would like to partner with Per Scholas to hire skilled, AI-fluent tech talent, visit the Per Scholas website today.

Since launching in 2019, the Per Scholas Philadelphia campus has trained more than 745 learners, equipping them with critical tech skills such as IT Support and Cybersecurity.

Today, alongside elected officials, community and employer partners, colleagues, inaugural cohort learners, and friends, Per Scholas Philadelphia hosted its Satellite Campus Launch at OIC Philadelphia with remarks from Bret Perkins, Senior Vice President, External and Government Affairs, Comcast; Sharif Street, Pennsylvania State Senator, District 3; Malcolm Kenyatta, Pennsylvania State Representative, District 181; Jeffery Young Jr., Councilmember, City of Philadelphia, 5th District; Rue Landau, Councilmember, City of Philadelphia, At-Large and Melissa Scott, Chief Information Officer, City of Philadelphia.

“At Per Scholas, we believe that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. With this new satellite campus, we’re bringing access to no-cost, tech education to North Philadelphia,” stated Joshua Park, Per Scholas Philadelphia Managing Director. “By partnering with OIC Philadelphia, we’re meeting learners where they are, providing the skills, resources, and networks they need to build thriving tech careers. This partnership represents what happens when mission-driven organizations work together to open doors to opportunity and drive lasting impact for Philadelphians.”

“At OIC Philadelphia, we’ve always believed in the power of partnership to create transformative change, and our collaboration with Per Scholas perfectly embodies this principle. In the legacy of our founder, Reverend Dr. Leon Sullivan, we’re committed to connecting our community members to family-sustaining careers with real growth potential. We’re thrilled to welcome Per Scholas to OIC Philadelphia this November, where together we’ll continue breaking down barriers and building pathways to economic opportunity for Philadelphia residents,” stated Sheila Ireland, President & Chief Executive Officer, OIC Philadelphia. “This partnership represents the kind of meaningful collaboration that creates lasting change, one life at a time.“

Per Scholas acknowledges Comcast for their generous contribution that made this Satellite Campus possible.

With a proven tech training model including both in-person and remote learning hubs, Per Scholas continues to unlock opportunities for individuals, strengthen communities, and drive business success across the greater Philadelphia area. Per Scholas Philadelphia is transforming lives and will continue to shape Philadelphia’s future as a thriving technology hub by equipping Per Scholas Technologists with in-demand tech skills at no cost.

To learn more about Per Scholas Philadelphia, follow them on LinkedIn or Per Scholas Philadelphia.

About Per Scholas

As Per Scholas celebrates 30 years of impact, we are charting an ambitious path forward— expanding access to high-growth tech careers and fostering economic mobility nationwide. Since 1995, we’ve offered no-cost tech training to more than 30,000 technologists in the most sought-after tech skills. With 20+ campuses and remote programs, we partner with employers—from Fortune 500 companies to startups—to create inclusive talent pipelines in fields like Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, and Software Engineering. More than half of our learners hold a high school diploma as their highest educational credential. We are building a future where successful careers in tech are accessible to everyone across urban, suburban, and rural communities, empowering individuals to unlock their potential and drive transformative economic change nationwide.

Learn more at PerScholas.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

About OIC Philadelphia

Founded in 1964 by Reverend Dr. Leon Sullivan, OIC Philadelphia has stood at the intersection of social justice, workforce development, and economic empowerment. Our mission is to foster connections to family-sustaining jobs with clear career ladder opportunities, enabling economic mobility for underserved Philadelphia residents. Through industry-recognized vocational training, comprehensive support services, and strategic employer partnerships, we create pathways to meaningful employment that transforms not just individual lives, but entire communities.

Located at 1231 N. Broad Street in a 100,000 square foot facility, OIC Philadelphia serves as a beacon of opportunity in North Philadelphia. With over 55,000 alumni since our founding, we have demonstrated unwavering commitment to breaking cycles of poverty and creating sustainable pathways to economic stability. Our organization operates with a deep understanding that workforce development extends beyond skills training to encompass holistic support that addresses the complex barriers facing our participants.

How Per Scholas Became 70% More Efficient in Matching Talent to Opportunities with Help from AdeptID

Executive Summary

Per Scholas, a national organization providing no-cost technology training to underrepresented individuals, partnered with AdeptID to enhance job attainment support for learners. Previously, Per Scholas staff manually reviewed thousands of alumni resumes for each employer job posting for capability, a process that took nearly a week per position. By implementing AI-powered talent matching, Per Scholas reduced resume submission time to under two days, boosting efficiency and increasing staff confidence, with 90% of team members trusting the AI’s recommendations. The solution also benefited Per Scholas learners directly; 75% of learners reported better resume presentation skills, and 71% felt more confident articulating their capabilities to employers.

The Challenge: Manual Processes in a Fast-Moving Industry

Per Scholas’s Tech Talent Solutions (TTS) team works to connect newly skilled graduates with employer partners hiring for related roles. As Per Scholas expanded, a bottleneck emerged. TTS team members spent dozens of hours each week manually reviewing thousands of alumni resumes for each job opening. 

This created a significant opportunity cost, as time spent reviewing resumes kept staff from building employer relationships and supporting alumni with job readiness.

“We were doing incredible work connecting our Per Scholas technologists with opportunities, but the manual nature of our matching process was limiting our ability to scale our impact,” explains Tamara Johnson, Chief Operating Officer at Per Scholas. “In tech hiring, positions are filling more quickly than ever. Every day spent on manual resume review could mean a missed opportunity for both our alumni and employer partners. With AdeptID, we’re not only able to connect job seekers to opportunities faster than ever, but we can also identify Per Scholas alumni who are the best fit for a particular job based on the specific skill set gained from their prior years of employment, as well as their Per Scholas training.”

The Solution: AI-Powered Talent Matching

Per Scholas partnered with AdeptID to integrate their talent-matching AI into the tools used by TTS staff, allowing automatic evaluation of graduate fit for job opportunities. When TTS team members receive a new job opening, they instantly receive a ranked list of graduates who would be a fit for the role, along with insights about relevant skills and potential growth areas.

Unlike traditional keyword-matching systems, this solution analyzes each learner’s unique profile, including work history, education, and training achievements, to holistically understand a graduate’s skills and potential. This is particularly important for the adult learners that Per Scholas trains, where the average age is 33. Per Scholas learners often bring years of previous work history where skills have been developed and are transferable to the job openings received by the TTS team.

“What makes this system special is its ability to understand the full spectrum of an individual’s capabilities,” notes Dan Restuccia, Head of Product at AdeptID. “It doesn’t just look at what someone has done before, it recognizes the new skills they’ve developed through Per Scholas training and their potential to grow into a role.”

The Results: Efficiency, Confidence, and Better Outcomes

Within weeks of implementation, Per Scholas witnessed dramatic improvements:

• Matching time reduced from a week to less than two days
• 90% of staff reported trust in the AI’s ability to identify strong matches
• 75% of learners reported better resume presentation skills
• 71% of learners indicated increased confidence in articulating capabilities

The benefits extended beyond the TTS team. Per Scholas Professional Development coaches, who work directly with learners to prepare them for employment, gained valuable insights into how each individual’s skills align with market demands. 

“From a Professional Development perspective, AdeptID strengthens both the advising process and learner confidence by making career pathways visible early in training, linking skills gained to real job opportunities, and identifying growth areas in a constructive way,” says Brandy Jones, Vice President, Professional Development & Career Services. “Instead of waiting until graduation, learners see data-backed matches to real roles, which validates their progress and motivates them to stay engaged. Coaches can use these insights during resume reviews, mock interviews, and goal-setting sessions, helping learners practice for actual job openings and build confidence in their readiness. By embedding career exploration throughout training, AdeptID reduces last-minute job search pressure and empowers learners to graduate with a clear, practiced, and confident career trajectory.”

Looking Forward: Scaling Success

Per Scholas has implemented AdeptID’s matching within various learning paths across the organization, with the partnership continuing to evolve based on user feedback and emerging needs.

“This partnership exemplifies what’s possible when mission-driven organizations leverage technology to amplify their impact,” says Johnson. “We’re not just matching people to jobs more efficiently, we’re creating a more transparent, accessible pathway to economic mobility while providing our employer partners with the tech talent they need to thrive.”

As the job market grows more volatile and unpredictable, connecting the right candidates with the right employers becomes increasingly challenging. Per Scholas’ use of AI solutions to create meaningful matches for alumni and partners is demonstrating how intentional implementation of AI solutions leads to mutually beneficial outcomes for each side of the interview table.

Arizona’s booming tech sector is creating new opportunities — and Per Scholas Phoenix is helping local residents seize them. Featured by AZFamily, the nonprofit’s no-cost technology training programs are opening doors for learners like Marty Perkins, who turned to Per Scholas after facing homelessness and unemployment.

Through 16 weeks of hands-on instruction in high-demand fields like IT, cybersecurity, and data center operations, Per Scholas equips learners with industry-recognized certifications and the skills to launch sustainable tech careers. “We can be that bridge,” said Managing Director Sharise Erby. “Tech is underrepresented by women, people of color, and veterans, and we’re working to change that.”

Per Scholas Phoenix celebrated a recent class with a 100% graduation rate, each graduate earning an IT certification. For Perkins, the experience has been life-changing: “I’ve always wanted an opportunity like this my whole life… I’m proud to say I got the break I’ve been searching for.”

Learn more about volunteer opportunities, donations, and upcoming courses at PerScholas.org/Phoenix.

At Per Scholas, we believe talent is everywhere, even if opportunity is not. Our mission is to advance economic equity through rigorous technical training, professional development, and access to high-growth careers. That mission takes bold partners who believe in the transformative power of skills-first training. With that, we are proud to highlight our partnership with Cognizant.

Through a generous investment, Cognizant is directly enabling Per Scholas to scale our reach and impact, aiming to train 8,500 learners across 25 cities between June 2025 and December 2026. This partnership is the kind of strategic investment that amplifies our success model and our belief that the future isn’t waiting, and neither should talent development.

Cognizant’s investment aims to support aspiring technologists from low- to moderate-income households to pursue careers across five critical pathways: Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, Infrastructure Technology, and Software Development. Per Scholas’ training combines 80% technical instruction with 20% professional development, all reinforced by wrap-around supports such as financial coaching, one-on-one counseling, and career readiness services. The result? Learners not only gain in-demand skills, but they are holistically prepared to succeed in the workforce and thrive long-term.

This work is especially critical as the U.S. faces a projected shortfall of 10 million unfilled tech jobs by 2030. Together, we are not just removing barriers for individuals hoping to enter thriving careers; we are shaping a more sustainable tech workforce and filling a critical skills gap that could stall economic progress.

As we move forward in this partnership, we are energized by the potential to reimagine workforce development for the AI era. Per Scholas President Caitlyn Brazill shared:

“What excites me most is the opportunity to use AI not just to build better tools, but to build better lives. With Cognizant’s support, we’re ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds can harness transformative technologies and pursue meaningful careers. Together, we are amplifying the skills-first narrative and showing the world that talent truly can come from anywhere.”

This October marks the second anniversary of Cognizant’s Synapse Initiative and we’re proud to celebrate this next chapter together. This partnership exemplifies the power of aligned vision, meaningful investment, and shared purpose.

Per Scholas is proud to once again be selected as a beneficiary of The New York Times Communities Fund holiday giving campaign, marking our third consecutive year participating in this 114-year-old tradition. Since its inception, the Fund has raised more than $354 million to strengthen communities through the generosity of New York Times readers and supporters.

The New York Times’ continued recognition of Per Scholas underscores our impact in advancing economic mobility through technology education. Support from the Fund in 2024-2025 enabled us to provide 2,282 individuals with the resources needed to participate in our no-cost technology and AI training programs, helping them launch life-changing careers in high-growth fields.

All funds raised from this campaign benefit our Career Access Fund, which provides learners with the essential materials, like textbooks, lab supplies, and certification exam fees needed to succeed. 

Thanks to many generous supporters Per Scholas has now empowered more than 30,000 individuals to pursue thriving careers in tech since 1995. This year, donations to the Fund will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $1 million, by an anonymous donor, doubling the impact of every gift.

To learn more about Per Scholas’s partnership with The Fund and to make a donation, please visit perscholas.org/nyt-communities-fund-2025.

To learn more about The New York Times Communities Fund, visit nytcommunitiesfund.org.

October 30, 2025 — Per Scholas is proud to share that its Boston campus has been recognized by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) for excellence in non-credit programming. This distinction places Per Scholas among the inaugural cohort of eight organizations acknowledged for meeting the highest standards of educational quality and impact in non-credit learning.

This recognition marks a significant milestone in advancing quality assurance and accountability for non-credit education across the region. Selected organizations—including Central Connecticut State University, Great Bay Community College, Kennebec Valley Community College, MCPHS University, New York University School of Professional Studies, Per Scholas, and York Community College—completed a comprehensive evaluation process based on NECHE’s Non-Credit Quality Assurance Framework.

Each organization underwent an extensive review process, including the submission of an evidence-based report, a peer evaluation site visit, and a review by NECHE’s Non-Credit Recognition Committee, which is composed of Commissioners and external experts. The Commission formally recognized Per Scholas and the other institutions during its September 2025 meeting.

Per Scholas’ recognition underscores the organization’s commitment to ensuring that non-credit programs meet the highest standards of educational excellence. The recognition validates the rigor, quality, and workforce relevance of Per Scholas’ training programs, providing learners and employers alike with a trusted, third-party endorsement of skills and outcomes.

The NECHE Non-Credit Recognition initiative reflects the Commission’s broader efforts to respond to the growing number of students enrolled in non-credit programs and the need for consistent quality standards across this expanding education sector.

Learn more about NECHE’s Non-Credit Recognition Process at neche.org.

New York, NY – October 21, 2025 – Per Scholas is proud to announce that it has been selected as one of 50 nonprofit organizations worldwide to receive a grant from the Citi Foundation’s 2025 Global Innovation Challenge, which is distributing a collective $25 million to accelerate youth-employability initiatives. 

Launched by the Citi Foundation, the 2025 Global Innovation Challenge awards each selected organization a grant of $500,000 to pilot or scale innovative employment solutions for low-income youth, building on Citi and the Citi Foundation’s longstanding commitment to young people and their economic futures. The grant supports programs such as digital and AI upskilling, technical & vocational training, work-based learning, career guidance, entrepreneurship resources, and mentorship.

Per Scholas is committed to closing the tech-skills divide and advancing economic mobility through no-cost, rigorous technical training that leads to high-growth tech careers. Over the past three decades, the organization has supported 30,000+ learners across the U.S. in launching tech careers through programs in IT Support, Cybersecurity, Cloud, Software Engineering, and more. 

With the grant support from the Citi Foundation, Per Scholas will further scale its model—expanding its reach, deepening impact, and innovating new tech-training pathways to ensure youth access to meaningful, sustainable careers.

• Youth unemployment remains a global challenge. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates 65 million young people are unemployed worldwide. 
• Employers report a major barrier: mismatch of skills—63% say this blocks hiring of qualified workers.
• With rapid digital transformation underway, demand is growing for new skills in AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and other high-growth tech sectors.

By combining employer-aligned technical instruction, professional-skills development and employer partnerships, Per Scholas addresses these gaps and helps learners move from under-employment to thriving technology careers.

Over the next two years, Per Scholas will deploy this funding to:

• Expand access in the five existing markets: Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Chicago, and the greater Washington, D.C area..
• Develop new or enhance curriculum in emerging tech sectors (e.g., AI, cloud infrastructure).
• Strengthen employer partnerships to boost job attainment outcomes for Per Scholas Technologists.

Through this partnership, Per Scholas and the Citi Foundation are investing in the promise and potential of young adults. By providing access to no-cost, high-quality tech training and career pathways, this collaboration will help young people gain the skills, confidence, and connections needed to thrive in today’s digital economy. With the Citi Foundation’s support, Per Scholas will continue to empower the next generation of technologists—creating pathways to meaningful employment, long-term economic mobility, and a stronger, more inclusive workforce.

About Per Scholas
As Per Scholas celebrates 30 years of impact, we are charting an ambitious path forward— expanding access to high-growth tech careers and fostering economic mobility nationwide. Since 1995, we’ve offered no-cost tech training to more than 30,000 technologists in the most sought-after tech skills. On average, our learners earn 3x their pre-training wage in their first role after Per Scholas. With 25 campuses and remote programs, we partner with employers—from Fortune 500 companies to startups—to create inclusive talent pipelines in fields like Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, and Software Engineering. More than half of our learners hold a high school diploma as their highest educational credential. We are building a future where successful careers in tech are accessible to everyone across urban, suburban, and rural communities, empowering individuals to unlock their potential and drive transformative economic change nationwide.

Learn more at PerScholas.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

Citi Foundation

The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant communities. The Citi Foundation’s “More than Philanthropy” approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com. 

Media Contact
For Per Scholas:
Mackenzie Loewen, communications@perscholas.org 

For Citi Foundation:
Julia Drabick: (919) 219-4605, julia.drabick@citi.com

Per Scholas’ Career Accelerator Program Drives Wage Increases for Early Career Tech Workers 

New research reveals upskilling leads to a 32% wage increase, proving that targeted, continuous training effectively closes the skills and wage gap 

Bronx, NY – October 20, 2025 – Per Scholas, a national tech training nonprofit, today announced the findings of a new study that highlights the critical role of continuous upskilling in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. The study, detailed in the white paper “Upskilling: A Pathway to Economic Advancement for Early Career Tech Workers,” showcases how the organization’s innovative Career Accelerator program effectively promotes continued economic mobility for tech professionals. 

Per Scholas launched its Career Accelerator program in 2021 to tackle a persistent, industry-wide challenge: ensuring graduates’ career momentum lasts long after their first job. This research underscored the critical need for a sustainable pathway to continued career growth, especially as AI continues to evolve workforce needs. 

Graduates who completed instructor-led upskilling courses saw average earnings grow by 32%—a $14k annual increase for a full-time worker—compared to their first post-graduation job. While this finding is based on unadjusted data, it demonstrates broad gains across learners. After controlling for key demographics, participants still experienced a significant wage premium. This compares to a 17% increase or $7k for alumni who did not complete a Career Accelerator course.

Additionally, after controlling for key demographic, educational, and work experience variables, the researchers found a statistically significant increase in earnings among those who complete an instructor-led upskilling course, compared to those who did not engage — an annual differential of $4,200. The data also suggests that the training format is critical, with instructor-led courses yielding the highest wage gains.

“As technology’s pace accelerates, upskilling is crucial for economic and career growth,” said Caitlyn Brazill, President, Per Scholas. “Our study shows that initiatives like Career Accelerator effectively close skills gaps and boost tech workers’ earning potential and career trajectories. To empower our workforce and build a resilient economy, we urge leaders to invest in working adults, track their progress, design inclusively, and keep skills agile—a roadmap for individual prosperity and economic resilience.”

Per Scholas’ Career Accelerator offers a large variety of short-format, career pathways-aligned upskilling courses designed to fit the busy lives of working professionals, with remote, instructor-led, and asynchronous options available. The program, which currently serves Per Scholas alumni, was designed to accommodate any incumbent workers, addressing a growing need for skills training with the rise of AI.

“Per Scholas didn’t just teach me IT skills; they helped me see a future I never thought possible,” said Per Scholas alumna Kenetra Woods. “From being laid off to becoming a System Administrator–earning 20% more–my experience with Career Accelerator was truly life-changing. I learned not only technical skills, but the importance of showing up every day, staying focused, and believing that I belonged. Now I mentor new alumni, helping them navigate the path I once found so daunting.”

Download now the full white paper, Upskilling: A Pathway to Economic Advancement for Early Career Tech Workers.

# # # 

About Per Scholas:

As Per Scholas celebrates 30 years of impact, we are charting an ambitious path forward— expanding access to high-growth tech careers and fostering economic mobility nationwide. Since 1995, we’ve offered no-cost tech training to more than 30,000 technologists in the most sought-after tech skills. On average, our learners earn 3x their pre-training wage in their first role after Per Scholas. With 25+ campuses and remote programs, we partner with employers—from Fortune 500 companies to startups—to create inclusive talent pipelines in fields like Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, and Software Engineering. More than half of our learners hold a high school diploma as their highest educational credential. We are building a future where successful careers in tech are accessible to everyone across urban, suburban, and rural communities, empowering individuals to unlock their potential and drive transformative economic change nationwide.

Learn more at PerScholas.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

Per Scholas is proud to announce a transformational $1 million grant from Truist Foundation to expand access to no-cost technology training across multiple markets, fueling economic mobility and opportunities for skilled individuals launching careers in technology.

This grant supports our initiative, Scaling Career Accelerator and Satellite Programs in Truist Markets, which will provide training to nearly 1,000 learners, including both immersive learners and alumni upskillers.

“This grant from Truist Foundation is a powerful endorsement of our model and shared commitment to building a strong tech workforce in the United States,” said Per Scholas CEO Plinio Ayala. “Together, we’re helping learners build in-demand skills and launch life-changing careers in the United States.”

With Truist Foundation’s support, Per Scholas will:

• Scale Career Accelerator courses in fast-growing fields such as AI Prompt Engineering, Ethical Hacking, and Cloud Computing, enrolling 600 Per Scholas alumni across Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, and the National Capital Region.
• Launch four new Satellite training sites in Cincinnati/Kentucky, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, enrolling 335 learners and building strong local employer pipelines.

“At Truist, our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities and to do this we support a wide variety of initiatives like Per Scholas,” said president of Truist Foundation, Lynette Bell. “I’m excited to see how they’ll be able to expand access to no-cost technology training that unlocks economic mobility and career pathways for learners across our footprint. Together we’re strengthening local talent pipelines and fueling meaningful growth in the technology space one learner, one opportunity and one future at a time.”

By expanding both advanced upskilling and new market entry, this investment will ensure that more individuals gain the skills and networks needed to thrive in the digital economy.

Truist Foundation’s investment reflects a shared vision, creating greater economic mobility through skills-based training and access to opportunity. By partnering together, we are driving impact at scale and helping communities across the country unlock potential and launch thriving careers in technology.

We are grateful to Truist Foundation for its commitment to building stronger communities, companies, and economies.