In several midsize cities across the U.S., unusual software teams are programming apps and websites. In past lives, these workers delivered pizzas and parcels, tended stores and taught in schools, or drove Ubers and forklifts.
This train-and-hire model is a potential answer to a huge outstanding issue: how to get people whose jobs are likely to be automated into new, future- proof work that requires vastly different skills.
Techtonic is a company providing apprenticeships for novice programmer wannabes. It plans to open a new center in El Paso, in addition to its programs in Colorado, where the apprenticeship model aims to remove (some) of the barriers to entry into this field. Is it truly for “anyone”?
Access to a career in this field being open to “anyone who wants to enter” seems like a no brainer “very good thing”. But AFAIK programming is not going to be a suitable career for everyone. Perhaps one just doesn’t know until trying it. That’s another advantage to apprenticeship programs, one can find out if the work is a good match.
The overall idea that a “train and hire” model can greatly aid attempts to solve AI driven unemployment seems sound enough. Perhaps there should be some assessment and appraisal of potential candidates for such programs, to help people make good choices as to where to invest their time and $$.
Kudos to Axios for the article below.
[gview file=”https://publicservicesalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Apprenticeship-for-novice-programmers.pdf”]