Panasonic Helps Students Learn to Code

Panasonic, a leading technology corporation and sponsor of this year’s MACo Summer Conference, is investing in the future by working with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to help students learn how to code – bridging a gap that will need to be filled in America’s computer science workforce over the next five years.

From Panasonic’s website:

What happens when a million jobs are created but industry can’t find the talent to fill the positions? Over the next five years, 1.4 million new computer science jobs will need to be filled in the United States – but there are only about 400,000 computer science students in that employment pipeline, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Currently, there are over 500,000 vacant tech jobs.

Those who write the code that make-up this software are making valuable contributions and being rewarded for that work. Millennials in their mid-twenties working for these software companies can even expect to make six figures in some cases, according to the Harvard Business Review. There were 7 million jobs that required some level of coding skills in 2015 and coding positions are expanding ahead of market average by 12 percent.

Unfortunately, coding classes aren’t offered in 90% of U.S. high schools. Furthermore, in 33 of the 50 states in the U.S., computer science classes aren’t counted as high school math or science graduation requirements.

To address this, Panasonic is working with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation in the process to help America fulfill its workforce needs going forward. One initiative includes the launch of a coding institute in Newark, home of Panasonic’s North America headquarters. Subsequent institutes Reno, NV, Atlanta, GA and Calexico, CA are also planned. These institutes will operate as an extension of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s successful Coding as a Second Language program.

The Coding as a Second Language program is a national initiative to introduce and teach Latino youth computer programming. The program makes pathways in tech accessible to underrepresented minorities and transform communities by providing access to technology where there is otherwise little available. What started in Los Angeles as a pilot program has now grown to 50 different markets.

These programs include six weeks of instruction. Along with a mentoring component, there are follow-ups that offer additional support. These connections can lead to industry apprenticeships and full-time opportunities.

To learn more about Panasonic and the ways they are advancing technology, visit their website.

Thank you to our Bronze Corporate Partner Panasonic for sponsoring the Welcoming Session and participating in our exhibit hall at this year’s MACo Summer Conference!

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