Southwest Connecticut Tech Hub Helps Students Explore Career Choices

Stamford, Conn. — Jan. 27, 2025 — A recent study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 61% of U.S. high school graduates in 2023 enrolled at a college or university that fall, which means nearly 40% chose a non-college path.

To help high school students in Connecticut understand their options and identify viable pathways after they graduate, the Southwest Connecticut Tech Hub is launching a campaign this month to connect area students with tech-enabled training and resources to chart their career paths. The campaign creates awareness among high school juniors and seniors about training and career opportunities in promising tech fields such as networking and systems, data analytics, software engineering and cybersecurity.

The Southwest Connecticut Tech Hub is a community that brings together the region’s tech employers with top tech talent to help establish Fairfield County as one of Connecticut’s most promising tech hubs. This initiative is being funded by a Good Jobs Challenge grant, which is funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration via the state of Connecticut’s Office of Workforce Strategy.

The Just Like Me campaign was developed by The Stamford Partnership, a co-convener of the Southwest Connecticut Tech Hub, along with regional workforce board The WorkPlace. The campaign includes information on tech careers and a feature to match students’ interests and skills to occupations. The campaign features a link to technical training programs so that prospects can request more information on career profiles. It also includes digital displays, mobile web pages and online posters designed to interest and engage target audiences.

“The campaign aims to provide high school students with insights into tech careers in the region and the education and training pathways for in-demand jobs that fit their strengths and interests,” says Patricia Meyer, director of the Good Jobs Challenge Program. “It helps address the needs of students who are unsure about pursuing a more traditional college or university path after high school.”

“It talks to them head on about taking that next step in charting their professional futures, which can provide clarity and a sense of fulfillment about their careers that they may have lacked previously,” she explains. “The campaign will also help inform high school counselors and administrators about technology opportunities in the region so they can discuss these opportunities with students.”

Campaign materials will be made accessible to students through principals, teachers and career/guidance counselors at target high schools in Fairfield County in order to educate and engage key administrators and influencers to support this effort. Virtual events such as a career fair, information sessions and webinars are also planned.

This campaign builds on the successes of the Good Jobs Challenge initiative in establishing partnerships with local high schools over the past year. Last year, The WorkPlace teamed up with Fairchild Wheeler Interdistrict Multi-Magnet High School in Bridgeport on a pilot program to deliver IT certification and training to 15 of the school’s juniors and seniors. Upon graduation in the spring, some students used their new skills and certifications to find employment in technology occupations and to begin college. The school’s partnership with The WorkPlace continues this year with train-the-trainer initiatives, additional IT courses with certifications and other work-based learning opportunities.

“We are thrilled to embark on year two of our partnership with The WorkPlace to help our students gain the skills and certifications they need to enrich their technology backgrounds and explore relevant career opportunities post-graduation,” says Chris Johnson, principal at the Fairchild Wheeler Interdistrict Multi-Magnet School in Bridgeport. “As we evolve this partnership, we are eager to help broaden the awareness of more students to these career pathways and support them in developing the skills and training they need for college and to pursue rewarding tech jobs in our region.”

The campaign also highlights regional opportunities for education in tech roles at schools such as UConn Stamford, CT State Norwalk and CT State Housatonic.

About The Stamford Partnership

The Stamford Partnership is a co-convenor of the Southwest Connecticut Tech Hub, which seeks to cultivate Greater Fairfield County as one of the nation's industry-leading tech hubs — home to a vibrant community of innovative companies and leading talent. The four pillars of the partnership are Agenda Setting, Strategic Partnerships, Community Building and Workforce Development. More information about our engagement and training initiatives can be found at cttechhub.org, and additional information about The Stamford Partnership can be found at stamfordpartnership.org.

For more information, contact Patricia Meyer at patricia@stamfordpartnership.org.