Press Releases

Leading certification programs now eligible for federal funds

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the information technology (IT) industry and workforce, announced today it has been approved by the DuPage County Workforce Innovation Board to provide workforce development solutions to local job training centers throughout Illinois, expanding its ongoing efforts to grow and diversify the technology workforce in the state and across the country.

CompTIA is now listed on the state’s Eligible Training Provider Lists (ETPL), which means local and state workforce development agencies can tap into federal funds allocated via the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to pay for CompTIA programs. WIOA was created to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy.

CompTIA’s comprehensive training programs, including CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Data+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA IT Fundamentals, are available through the Illinois Work Net Center, an American Jobs Center, which manages WIOA-funded programs.

“These are critical jobs that lead to incredibly fulfilling careers for workers at any stage in their lives,” said Nancy Hammervik, Chief Solutions Officer for CompTIA. “Our team specializes in workforce and economic development, education, training, and job placement programs, including apprenticeships and more. This public-private partnership ensures Illinois has access to the training and resources needed to build its tech talent pipeline, critical to the state economy and security.”

Technology jobs are a driving force across the Illinois economy, accounting for a staggering $55.6B in economic impact annually. More than 325,600 professionals are employed by technology companies or within other industries such as health care, manufacturing, and finance, according to research from CompTIA.¹ However, current projections show that demand for tech talent continues to outpace supply.  Through the first eight months of 2023 Illinois employers across all industries listed more than 216,000 job openings for technology positions.

Hiring challenges are especially prevalent in roles such as software development, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, IT support and data. With a median Illinois tech wage 105% higher than the prevailing wage, growing the base of tech employment adds good jobs that boost the state’s economy.

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About CompTIA
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the world’s leading information technology (IT) certification and training body. CompTIA is a mission-driven organization committed to unlocking the potential of every student, career changer or professional seeking to begin or advance in a technology career. Each year CompTIA, directly and through its global network of partners, provides millions of people with training, education and certification. To learn more visit https://www.comptia.org/

¹ Each year CompTIA compiles the “State of the Tech Workforce” report using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Lightcast and more. This data helps employers, job seekers, educators, career counselors, policy makers, economic developers and other stakeholders answer a wide range of questions with data and insight.

Media Contact:
Roger Hughlett
CompTIA
202.503.3644
[email protected]