Local IT firms have reported difficulty for years in attracting people they need to grow their companies.
A recent summit put on by Tech Collective and Bridge Technical Talent provided more detail on the issue of entry-level hiring, thanks to a survey of 73 local employers. More than half of the respondents said they were having difficulty finding and hiring entry-level workers.
A report accompanying the survey outlined a number of recommendations that would begin to address this retardant on Rhode Island’s economic growth.
The most important changes relate to the connection made between what students here are learning and what the job market requires. Gov. Gina M. Raimondo has been trying to address this issue through her Real Jobs Rhode Island program.
And while the state program is a good one, it should not take government incentives to change academic offerings, especially at the state’s public higher educational institutions. They need to hear what employers are saying and modify their approach. It’s the only responsible thing to do. •