Computing Technology Industry Association Joins Alliance for an Experienced Workforce; Industries come together to address issues of aging U.S. workforce.

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. -- The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) announced today it is working with the AARP and other organizations in the Alliance for an Experienced Workforce, a new collaborative initiative aimed at helping the nation's employers create workplaces that successfully engage and utilize the skills of the workers over the age of 50.

By 2010, nearly one in three workers in the United States will be over the age of 50. As the relative proportion of younger workers declines, attracting and retaining experienced and reliable workers must become a core business strategy for all employers. At the same time, it is vital to ensure that these workers are prepared to meet the skills in demand in the 21st century workplace.

"Our industry has demonstrated that technology, when used properly, is a key competitive advantage that can positively impact the long-term growth and success of organizations across our economy, from financial services and healthcare, to transportation, manufacturing, education, and scores of other industries," said John Venator, president and chief executive officer of CompTIA. "But a skilled and experienced workforce is required to assure that technology is used properly. Employers that fail to attract and keep the age 50 and over workforce lose a wealth of experience, skill and knowledge that these employees have gained by performing work at each rung of the career ladder.

"Organizations risk losing core competencies, in-house expertise and mentors for future talent," Venator continued. "The long-term impact of such a trend is a slowdown in innovation. Reversing this trend is the reason why CompTIA has joined with these other organizations in the Alliance for an Experienced Workforce."

The mission of the Alliance for an Experienced Workforce is to help employers understand, plan for and create workplaces that successfully engage and utilize the skills of the workers over the age of 50 both now and in the future. To accomplish this, alliance members will collaborate on strategies to raise the visibility of this issue and to increase the opportunities for employers and employees.

For its part, CompTIA already offers a number of workforce initiatives that are relevant to workers age 50 and older.

CompTIA is the world's leading provider of vendor-neutral certifications for individuals in technology professions. These certifications test and validate a variety of baseline technical and professional skills, including personal computer service, networking, document imaging, Internet, server technologies, Linux, project management, technical training, e-business, security, and integrated home networks. CompTIA certifications provide validation of the technology skills that are in demand today and help to prepare workers so that they are can immediately contribute to the employer's success. Human resources managers and hiring directors recognize CompTIA certifications as providing a reliable predictor of an employee's on the job success.

The CompTIA Tech Career Compass (http://tcc.comptia.org) is a free resource that provides comprehensive career guidance on IT job roles. Employers can measure their workforce against industry standards to evaluate the skill levels of current staff and to map out training strategies. Individual workers can identify relevant training and professional certifications that will allow them to fill gaps in their current experience skills, or add new skills to their portfolios.

Creating Futures (http://educationalfoundation.comptia.org/creating_futures.aspx) is a new program of the CompTIA Educational Foundation that is helping individuals to prepare for and secure meaningful and productive employment in technology. At the same time, the program assists employers in need of workers with current and relevant skills to find the right employees for their business. Creating Futures focuses on bringing individuals from groups that have been historically underrepresented in the IT workforce into rewarding careers in technology.

About CompTIA

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) represents the business interests of the information technology (IT) industry. For 24 years CompTIA has provided research, networking and partnering opportunities to its 20,000 member organizations in more than 100 countries worldwide. CompTIA initiatives extend to areas such as convergence technologies, electronic commerce, information security, IT services, public policy, skills development, and software. CompTIA helps organization maximize the benefits they receive from their investments in technology; and assists IT workers to obtain the skills they need for productive careers in technology. For more information, please visit: www.comptia.org.