Los Angeles, Calif (Sep. 28, 2023) – Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Microsoft to integrate digital and technical skills training within PACE’s existing workforce development programs. “I commend PACE for its partnership with Microsoft and efforts to provide technology skills training opportunities [for] needy residents in Los Angeles…to obtain living-wage jobs and future-proof their careers,” stated Gregg Irish, Executive Director of the City’s Workforce Development Board. This integration will enable clients to achieve recognizable, marketable and stackable credentials that will equip them with the necessary skills to succeed in the growing Information Technology (IT) industry and beyond.
“We believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. In partnering with PACE, Microsoft expands its reach and continues its commitment to economic digital inclusion and equity,” stated Linda Nguyen, Lead of Microsoft TechSpark LA.
Since its founding, PACE’s award-winning workforce program has provided career services, job training and placement services to low-income individuals and underserved communities. The primary goal of the PACE WorkSource Center technology pillar is to provide a training opportunity that allows individuals to gain technical skills and receive industry recognized official Microsoft Certifications. A key advantage of Microsoft Certifications is that they are aligned with the real-life needs of the IT sector and will allow trainees to gain the skills needed for in-demand job roles such as developers, data scientists, security engineers, and administrators.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the IT industry is projected to grow 15% from 2021 to 2031. Through a partnership with PACE and Microsoft, PACE aims to provide trainings and stackable certifications in Los Angeles County, with a focus on low-income individuals as a platform for economic mobility and a career pathway into the technology industry. Because of the high demand for IT workers, PACE anticipates that program graduates will have access to meaningful job opportunities that will develop their careers in technology and other fields.
“We are thrilled to launch this new initiative with Microsoft to help individuals in our community gain the necessary skills they need to succeed in the tech industry. Workforce development in IT is not just a smart investment, but a necessary one. By investing in the technical skills of our local workforce, we are creating opportunities for economic growth in the digital age,” said Kerry Doi, President and CEO of PACE.
About PACE
Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE)’s mission is to create economic solutions to meet the challenges of employment, education, housing, the environment, and business development in the Pacific Asian and other diverse communities in the Los Angeles area. Initially founded in 1976 to address the job training needs of the Asian Pacific Islander community, PACE has expanded into other areas of service based on community need and has served more than 1.4 million low-income residents of the Los Angeles area through our comprehensive array of community development services. Annually, PACE’s staff of 300+ provides more than 40,000 low-income individuals, families, and small businesses with tools and opportunities that will enable them to survive, prosper, and become economically self-sufficient.
About Microsoft TechSpark
Founded in 2017, Microsoft TechSpark is a unique local initiative designed to foster economic opportunity in rural and remote communities. Since its inception in seven communities across the US, more than $125 million in community funding has been secured, 3,300 jobs created, and 50,000 people have accessed digital skills. Microsoft TechSpark has engaged with thousands of nonprofits and small businesses, supported over 500 start-ups and helped secure $88 million in local equity investments to create local impact.
For more information about PACE’s workforce programs, please contact PACE WorkSource Center at (213) 353-1677 or email at [email protected]