Australia’s largest single Apprentice Connect Provider and Group Training Organisation, MEGT, has signed onto a new initiative to help fill significant skills gaps in the Information Technology sector.
The 20% Alternative Pathways Pledge is a commitment from NSW Digital Skills and Workforce Compact partners that 20% of all digital entry-level hires will come from alternative pathways by 2030.
The pledge is informed by leading industry research in Accenture’s ICT Industry Landscape and 'Break Down the Barriers' reports.
MEGT’s General Manager of Recruitment and Management Services, Todd Pavlou, said the initiative will expand talent pipelines during a critical period of IT services growth.
“We know that there’s going to be a shortfall of 85,000 IT professionals in coming years, so opening the doors to a wider selection of candidates makes sense”, Mr Pavlou said.
“MEGT has a proud history dating back to 1982 of supporting trainees in many different sectors, so to give more people an opportunity to create their own exciting career is another great way of doing that”.
The Alternative Pathways Pledge is a landmark commitment from the digital sector to create lasting cultural change to create more equitable ways of hiring talent, provide more opportunities for under-represented cohorts, and meet the needs of employers.
Pathways will also focus on non-university routes, including Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, traineeships, and micro-credentialling.
“We know that diversity in the workforce is what helps businesses grow, and everyone deserves equal access to the career they want to have”, Mr Pavlou said.
“Increasing alternative pathways by 20% could mean an extra 31,000 workers joining the sector by 2030. MEGT and the other 40 Alternative Pathways Pledge signatories are well aware of this, and we’re excited to see what the program is able to deliver”.
