Press Releases

Washington, D.C., – CompTIA, the leading association for the global information technology (IT) industry, issued the following statement, attributed to Cinnamon Rogers, executive vice president for public advocacy, on the Enabling Online Virtual Workforce Training Act introduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA):

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need for smart government policies and funding to address the significant challenges facing displaced workers and our country’s labor market. One way to get Americans back to work is through training programs that upskill and reskill workers to fill open jobs, like in IT. For example, CompTIA’s latest research shows U.S. employers posted over 1.8 million openings* for technology occupations during the first half of the year.”

“Unfortunately, today millions of Americans can’t go to in-person workforce training programs due to the pandemic, which means that now, more than ever, federal and state programs need to support high-quality virtual training programs. The bill introduced today by Rep. Smucker goes a long way towards eliminating existing barriers for established quality online and virtual training providers across the country and will enable Americans to immediately access training services from the safety of their own homes.

“We applaud Rep. Smucker for introducing this bill. Like the Workforce Recovery and Training Services Act, introduced earlier this week in the U.S. Senate by Steve Daines (R-MT) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), these bills will expedite online and virtual training programs across the country and help Americans expand their skillsets to find that next job. We urge Congress to pass this much needed legislation.”

*Source: CompTIA analysis of Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights job posting data

About CompTIA
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5.2 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the more than 75 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the world’s economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce. Visit www.comptia.org to learn more.

About CompTIA Public Sector & Advocacy 
CompTIA supports policies that positively impact the ability of the IT industry to develop, manufacture, and sell solutions in the global marketplace. We work to promote investment and innovation, market access, effective cybersecurity, consistent privacy regulation, streamlined procurement, and research and development.  As the leading provider of vendor-neutral IT certifications, we also support efforts to promote a well-trained technical workforce.  Visit www.comptia.org to learn more.