Redefining the Workforce of the Future Through Apprenticeships
The Sacramento region continues to be a hot market for talent and workforce development . We are on a growth trajectory locally in terms of population , investment , and opportunities for education and talent , according to the latest report from the Greater Sacramento Economic Council ( GSEC ). This is an exciting time for us in the region , as these opportunities create tremendous economic impact while driving innovation that ’ s coming out of local businesses .
However , as we embark on this growth trajectory and think about how we build and expand our workforce , business leaders must also tap into the diversity of this area to drive innovation and build a more inclusive future that benefits everyone . We already have a diverse and highly educated workforce , earning us a ranking of third in the nation for diversity in both tech and STEM , as GSEC notes in its report . We need to do more to tap into this diverse talent pool in creative ways to create opportunities for all — and establish a workforce that is representative of the community in which we live .
Growing and developing programs like Accenture ’ s Apprenticeship Program can help us achieve this goal . The program has been developed as a learn-and-earn model with benefits that provide a pathway for historically underrepresented communities to digital economy jobs and sustainable careers . At Accenture , we are grateful for each of the apprentices we have worked with over the years , bringing their unique skills and life experiences to what we do . Nearly two-thirds of our apprentices are from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds , and one out of four apprentices are military veterans , spouses or active service members . Their unique thinking , life experiences and contributions to our company have helped us grow and innovate .
Many of our apprentices join Accenture full-time , doing everything from recruiting to building cloud solutions for the world ’ s largest tech companies . Our apprentices inspire us every day , and we are proud to continue expanding our apprenticeship program in the Sacramento region and beyond . By bringing together local employers , government and skilling partners , we are helping to create a future centered around nurturing , growing and diversifying talent .
I know firsthand how life-changing it is to have these opportunities to grow in a new career . I am a veteran of the U . S . Navy , where I served for seven years . But for an organization that saw the potential in me , my career may have taken a much different path . I applied the skills I learned in the military in my new job as I leveraged the GI Bill to earn my bachelor ’ s degree . I have been able to use those skills and experiences over my career working in the tech sector before joining Accenture .
Similarly , Martin Arias joined the workforce through the U . S . Navy and became interested in technology through a retail company he was working for . However , because of rising childcare costs , he decided to become a stay-at-home dad after his second child was born and earned a degree in microcomputer applications simultaneously before he landed an Accenture apprenticeship that led to a full-time job . The apprenticeship program offered Martin a way to make a mid-career transition and earn while he learned in a role that valued his military background and saw his potential .
Let ’ s Take Action Together We cannot take our promising growth here in the Sacramento region for granted . In this tight labor market that has been dubbed “ The Great Resignation ,” where workers have more leverage than ever before to pursue new opportunities , apprenticeships can help business leaders identify a new channel of potential employees to fill the talent gap . What our experience has taught us is that diverse talent makes for a thriving , innovative workforce and community .
It makes sense that we need diverse talent to drive success : If businesses do not take into account the diversity of experiences and voices in our culture , we cannot build products and services that are truly inclusive and reflective of the world we live in , and the people they are being built for . A growing number of businesses are recognizing this and building it into how they operate . The Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau , for example , hired its first chief of diversity , equity and inclusion last year to better reflect the diversity of our region in the work the bureau does to promote the hospitality industry .
Workforces need to reflect the vibrant diversity of their communities . In the Sacramento region , we already excel at this . As the region grows , though , we have an opportunity to let our diversity shine even more by creating additional pathways into the workforce for people from diverse , nontraditional backgrounds .
In doing this , we will drive innovation and make an impact like never before . Let ’ s work together to redefine the Workforce of the Future in Sacramento .
Mark Noriega is Accenture ’ s Sacramento Office Managing Director and leads the Public Service practice , working with the State of California . In this bi-monthly content for Comstock ’ s , he shares insights on the latest workforce themes , trends and issues impacting California ’ s Capital Region .
8 comstocksmag . com | June 2022
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