TEKsystems 2022 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in IT Report Reveals Breakthroughs and Barriers

Report details discrepancy between perception and reality of the effectiveness of DEI initiatives for the IT workforce

(HANOVER, Md., December 8, 2022) – TEKsystems, a global provider of technology, business and talent solutions for more than 80% of the Fortune 500, today released its first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in IT report. The report examines the perspectives of IT and HR leaders, IT employees and IT job seekers on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts and their impact in the workplace. 

“It’s encouraging to see that many organizations have implemented initiatives to foster more inclusive workplaces across the IT industry and create opportunities for people with diverse backgrounds,” said Faith Johnson, vice president of human resources at TEKsystems. “At TEKsystems, we believe workplaces should reflect the society in which they exist and operate. While we see signs of progress within the technology workforce, this report demonstrates there remains critical work to be done to enact and sustain lasting change.” 

DEI efforts have made positive impacts on organizations, but there are major diversity gaps among IT talent. TEKsystems’ report demonstrates a clear disconnect between perceptions and the reality of programs meant to cultivate a diverse, inclusive culture. While many organizations have demonstrated their commitment to DEI initiatives and seem to understand the importance, they appear to be failing to make systematic changes that garner results.  

“Our findings reveal that more needs to be done to move the needle and impact real change in the IT industry—an industry already facing a shortage of talent,” said Franklin Reed, executive director of global inclusion, diversity and equity at TEKsystems. “We believe more strategy, more intention and more mindset shifts need to occur. We’ve seen organizations enable sustainable change through strategies and networks that advance diverse, equitable and inclusive hiring and retention practices, work culture and values. We must work together to share best practices and drive actual outcomes.” 

The report revealed the good and the bad of the state of DEI in the IT workforce, notably the impacts of DEI programs and the challenges that IT leaders, employees and job seekers continue to face.

Positive Impacts of DEI Programs

• Overall, DEI programs have made company cultures more inclusive and workplaces more diverse.
• Diverse workforces improve employee retention and company performance.
• IT decision-makers typically spend over 10 hours per week implementing DEI policies.

DEI Challenges Faced in the IT Workforce

• Companies tend to have difficulty or the inability to measure impacts of DEI strategies.
• Less than half of decision-makers have advanced or mature DEI policies in place.
• Over half of women working in IT still say they still struggle to fit in.

“Tackling systematic change in the IT industry involves purposeful, innovative approaches powered by partnerships across enterprises. We believe these approaches, however, are not independent from an organization’s business goals—they align and help power business,” said Damien Howard, chief enterprise solutions officer at Per Scholas. “Studies have shown inclusive teams make better decisions, and diverse teams produce more revenue. In partnership with TEKsystems, we’re working to build talent pipelines to help accelerate business, and we’re increasing access to opportunity through rigorous technical training across the U.S., equipping thousands of diverse technologists with the in-demand skills to succeed.”

The full report, complete with additional findings, expert recommendations, and advice for creating an inclusive culture to overcome challenges, is available in an interactive, online experience on TEKsystems.com.

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Our Boldest Experiment Yet: Satellite

New York City is awash with talent, attracting droves from around the globe. Yet, access to the vast array of opportunities within the city remains uneven – and even inaccessible – to all. One of the biggest barriers that exist in the nation’s largest city is commutable distances between boroughs. Entire communities within New York City remain cut off from prosperity geographically, culturally, and economically. The recent COVID-19 pandemic, the accompanying economic downturn, and the present rebound have made stark some of the persistent inequities in the city, prompting calls for action from City Hall, the business community, and others to ensure New York’s recovery is centered on equity and economic mobility. 

In perhaps our boldest experiment yet, Per Scholas has launched our Satellite Model where we embed our programming with a partner organization’s physical location and harness that entity’s connections with the local community, complementary services, and staff to expand access to high-quality tech training and careers. This hybrid approach to training offers remote instruction from Per Scholas’s Bronx or Brooklyn campus to learners in East New York, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. I am so proud that for the first time in our organizational history, we are training in all five boroughs. 

Learners enrolled at a Satellite location experience the same programming and are held to the same high standards as those enrolled at Per Scholas. Staff from Per Scholas and Satellite organizations work collaboratively to provide professional development, learner support, exposure to the tech industry, and career planning and job search assistance. 

Partnering for Impact

Through the generous support of our Founder’s Circle partner Barclays, we’ve developed a report assessing the Satellite Model’s structure, promise, and early learnings. The Satellite Model is designed to tap into and uplift both the New Yorkers who are far too often overlooked as potential technology talent, as well as the rich but fragmented ecosystem of workforce organizations and programs operating in areas of the city that are less accessible geographically to Per Scholas’s campuses. 

Here were our key findings:

• The Satellite Model is broadening Per Scholas’s reach into new communities and addressing unmet demand for locally accessible tech training.
• Learners to date receive what appears to be an equal training experience.
• The Satellite Model incorporates an extensive scaffolding of capacity-building supports to set partner organizations – and the partnerships – up for success.
• A Satellite “ecosystem” is taking shape, linking Satellite partners to one another as well as to Per Scholas.
• Per Scholas and its Satellite partners are building a compelling story about collaborative outcomes and impacts.
• The Satellite Model holds promise for achieving greater efficiencies in staffing and costs in the long run but will necessitate Per Scholas staff to play significant roles in program implementation and administration for longer than anticipated. 

National Potential

“The Satellite Model allows for Per Scholas to meet the growing demand for tech training and will help more individuals launch upwardly mobile careers,” said Deborah Goldfarb, Global Head of Citizenship for Barclays. “Critically, Per Scholas will be able to further break down barriers and create access for learners across New York City and beyond.” 

The Satellite approach could have national implications in the future, beyond New York City. It might prove to be applicable in a market covering a large geographic area with sufficient tech employment opportunities dispersed throughout. If an appropriate community organization in a suburban or rural area can be identified to partner with the Per Scholas campus in a central business district, the Satellite Model is one promising strategy for increasing access to training for more prospective learners. 

On October 18, Per Scholas President and CEO Plinio Ayala participated in Comcast’s Project UP Partner Summit. The Summit’s discussions focused on deepening relationships to advance digital equity. Backed by a $1 billion commitment to reach tens of millions of people, Project UP encompasses the programs and partnerships across Comcast, NBCUniversal, and Sky that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility, and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers, and creators.

Plinio was part of a panel, Spotlight on Digital Skills, joining moderator Michael Collins, VP, JFF; Michael Ellison, Co-Founder & CEO, CodePath; and Jessica Santana, Co-Founder & CEO, America On Tech. During the conversation, Plinio discussed creating a climate where people of color can thrive in tech and how Per Scholas is preparing our learners for the in‐demand tech careers of the future. One highlight from the panel included diversity in the workforce and the steps Per Scholas is taking to ensure we continue to empower our learners with tuition-free tech training beyond the 2020 surge of advocacy for diversity and inclusion.

In addition to the panels, the Summit also included an opportunity for Comcast NBCUniversal’s partners and nonprofits nationwide to network. Per Scholas Philadelphia Managing Director Nikki Pumphrey attended the event and was able to learn about innovations from across the country as well as connect with colleagues in Philadelphia to learn from those promising practices.

Per Scholas is proud to announce that we have been awarded funding from WorkRise, as part of a $2.8 million grant to support innovative pilot studies that test solutions to boost workers’ economic mobility.

This grant will enable Per Scholas and MDRC to understand whether adding alumni advancement coaching services— such as 1:1 coaching, group coaching, employment technical assistance (career plans and résumé reviews), and upskilling referrals—will measurably impact an individual’s trajectory toward a thriving wage, and how these interventions impact different demographic groups.

To read the press release about this tremendous announcement, click here. 

On October 12th, Per Scholas learners enrolled in our Dallas Cybersecurity and IT Support courses took part in a Career Panel event with catalyst partner, Workday. At the event, Workday volunteers contributed their business professional knowledge, discussed career growth, and provided advice to our learners in 1:1 career conversations. 

The event was opened by Lilly Giraldo, Giving & Doing Program Manager at Workday, followed by some words on Per Scholas’ mission and background by Miguelina Manriquez, Per Scholas’ Senior Manager of Corporate Engagement. Attendees then heard about career growth from Jenn Skogg, the Principal B&D Learning Portfolio Manager at Workday, before breaking off into individual conversations between Per Scholas learners and Workday volunteers. 

The professional development opportunities and resources provided by Per Scholas are a unique function of our training program, and one of several factors that set Per Scholas apart from our peer tech training programs. 20% of each of our courses is dedicated to professional development training, and learners are also presented with opportunities, such as this event, in which they can showcase their skills, participate in mock interviews, and receive insight and advice from real employer partners.

Since 2014, Per Scholas has partnered with Workday to create paths to financial security by providing people who do not earn a living wage with skills training and access to better job opportunities in the tech sector. Over the years, hundreds of Workday volunteers have supported Per Scholas learners through mock interviews, resume reviews, guest presentations, and mentoring sessions that prepare learners for entering the tech workplace. Alongside the time and talent of hundreds of Workmate volunteers every year, Workday has made a significant impact on Per Scholas by investing more than $1.4M to date. We look forward to continuing our wonderful partnership with Workday to train individuals for high-growth careers in technology. To learn more about volunteer opportunities and how you can partner with Per Scholas, please reach out to Miguelina Manriquez for more information.

Earlier this month, ActivateWork Powered by Per Scholas was featured in Colorado’s CPR News. The article discussed the increasing number of people opting to enter the tech world via bootcamps and courses, rather than the traditional four-year degree.

Currently, Colorado has one of the highest tech gaps in the nation, with the amount of available tech job postings greatly surpassing the number of people applying for them. It is not that people aren’t interested in pursuing tech — this gap is due to the prohibitively expensive cost of higher education and many existing tech training programs.

“The demand for talent is off the chart, yet the supply is constricting as higher education gets more expensive,” said ActivateWork’s chief operating officer Kathryn Harris. “There are huge untapped pools of workers stuck in jobs that don’t have career paths…They’ve always had an aptitude or an interest or passion in technology, but they haven’t had the resources or the time to skill themselves up,” she said.

This is where programs like ActivateWork Powered by Per Scholas come in, offering diverse individuals the opportunity to earn certifications and start high-growth careers in tech for no personal cost to them.

The article also featured interviews with several learners, including our very own Isaac Horton and Randy Cordova, both of whom graduated from our Per Scholas Denver campus!

Read the full news article here.

Per Scholas Chicago Establishes Advisory Board
Leaders from Fortune 100s, Technology, Nonprofit, Professional Services Contribute to Transform America’s Tech Workforce

CHICAGO, IL (October 6, 2022) — Per Scholas Chicago today announced the creation of its inaugural Advisory Board. Leaders from Fortune 100 companies, technology, professional services and the nonprofit sector will contribute their time and talent to supporting Per Scholas and its mission to transform America’s technology workforce through rigorous tech skills training.

Inaugural Per Scholas Chicago Advisory Board Members include:

• Charles Herman, Managing Director, Executive Search & IT Direct Hire Enterprise Delivery, The Judge Group
• Sandee Kastrul, President and Co-Founder, i.c. stars
• Gwendolyn McNutt, Regional External Affairs Manager, Comcast
• Veronica Vergara, Application Development Associate, Accenture and Per Scholas Chicago Graduate
• Anna Witler, Vice President, Sales Integration, CDW

Since launching in Chicago in June of 2020, Per Scholas Chicago has trained nearly 230 learners in in-demand skills including IT Support, End User Desktop Support, AWS re/Start, and Full Stack Java Developer.

“Per Scholas Chicago is delighted to launch our inaugural Advisory Board with visionary leadership from Charlie, Sandee, Gwendolyn, Veronica, and Anna. We’re committed to training best-in-class tech talent and being a contributing member of the powerful tech ecosystem here in Chicago,” said Andi Drileck, Per Scholas Chicago Senior Managing Director.

Aligned with Per Scholas’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, 4 in 5 Chicago learners are people of color and a third identify as women. In 2022, Per Scholas Chicago is on track to train 120 learners in a variety of skills for high-growth tech careers including IT Support, AWS re/Start, and End User Desktop Support.

Locally, Per Scholas Chicago is generously supported by Building Better Futures. To learn more about Per Scholas Chicago, please visit www.PerScholas.org/Chicago.

The Per Scholas Chicago Advisory Board will participate in a celebration of the Chicago campus on October 14, 2022. To learn more and RSVP, click here.

 About Per Scholas: Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for 27 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, we prepare individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. We partner with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting our graduates to new career opportunities at businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 19 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 17,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.