ICT/Digital Media Priority Sector Selection Rationale

Howmany and what size employers are the employers that comprise the sector?

Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) is an umbrella term, widely used outside the U.S.and in the United Nations, to encompass all rapidly emerging, evolving and converging computer, software, networking, telecommunications, Internet, programming, information systems and digital media technologies. Digital media is defined as digitized content (text, graphics, audio and video) that can be trasmitted over the internet or computer networks. It is a subset of ICT that is often addressed separately due its growing significance in this sector.

ICT industries, those that make goods and services related to ICT, are one of the highlights of the California economy, with companies like Apple Computer, Google, Facebook, Intel, Adobe Systems calling California home. ICT goods and services are increasingly adopted by all kinds of organizations and individuals. ICT industries:

  • include about 46,000 (1 in 28) businesses in California
  • Produce about $172B in revenues (6% of California private sector revenues)
  • Employ more than a million California workers (1 in 17 priviate sector jobs)
  • Pay about $76B in wages (12% of private sector wages, the 2nd highest industry sector in California)
  • Expect job growth approaching 20% from 2006 to 2016, outpacing the nation

ICT employment is not limited to ICT industries, however. Information and communication technologies are critical strategic and operational components of most individuals and organizations, in every industry, in every geographic region and at every organizational size. Those employers range from very small businesses to the largest organizations in the State. Every organization is a potential ICT employer. Already, ICT Workforce:

  • employs 1 in 20 Californians, about 1.2 million people.
  • produces about 80,000 annual new and replacement job openings in California
  • pay on average twice the median in California
  • and many of these high quality jobs do not require a 4-year degree

Howmany new and replacement job openingsexist forthis sectoroverthe next five years?

  • 80,000 annually inCalifornia

Is there enough occupational demandto sustain acommunity college program?

  • There is more than adequate occupational demand to sustain a community college program in every region, but especially in the larger metropolitan areas of the state: the San Francisco Bay Area, the greater Los Angeles/Orange County area, the greater San Diego area and the greater Sacramento area.

Will communitycollege training providethe student acompetitive advantage inretaining orsecuringemployment?

  • Half of California employers reported not requiring a bachelor degree or higher for half their ICT workforce, and 4-year colleges often do not provide the hands-on or technical training that develop knowledge and skills in high demand by employers. Many students in ICT related programs at CCCs already have bachelor degrees or higher.

Dothe jobs provide aliving wage? (Livingwage is definedbycountyandcan be accessed at

  • Average ICT Workforce wages are twice the median for California.

Is there a careerpathway with potential foradvancement?

  • Career pathways in ICT are not well defined, but there are unlimited opportunities for career growthand advancement.

Canworkerswith relatedskillsets transition into occupations in this industry?

  • Workers with ICT skillsets can thrive in every industry, including ICT industries,

Is the sectoreconomicallycritical to the region? Considerjobs multiplier, wealth creation,andinnovationas ways to offer a competitive advantage.

  • More than 80% of California employers consider ICT to be strategically important to the productivity of their organizations, in every industry, geography and company size. ICT enables productivity and strategic advantage, for all. ICT Industry innovations often drive efficiency gains and capabilities in all kinds of organizations in allindustries, making them more successful and able to generate wealth and support high quality lifestyles That prosperity impacts the prosperity of surrounding communities.

Canthe colleges leverage with otherpartners to address this sector?

  • Local workforce development agencies along with statewide industry are eager to collaborate in preparing an ICT workforce with the skills necessary to meet demand.

Are others willingtoworkon this project?Whattangibleassets will they bringto the project (in-kind donations,equipment,services,etc.)?

  • The Mid-Pacific ICT Center (MPICT.org) and the California Community College ICT Collaborative (cccict.org) have $1million annually to work together to improve ICT education and workforce development. There are many ICT related industry academy and certification programs. ACM provides curricular guidelines.

How does this project buildon current strengths andassets?

  • Almost every community college in California has at least one ICT related program to build on. Community colleges provide the hands-on technical training not provided elsewhere in public education systems. CCC ICT education is extremely affordable, compared to alternatives.