Today, Merit America, a national career development nonprofit, announced the addition of two new career tracks in cybersecurity and project management. The new career tracks will officially launch in 2024, expanding the organization’s existing offerings in IT Support, Data Analytics, UX Design and Java Development.
The new career tracks were selected for their strategic alignment with current labor market demand and projected growth. With more than 700,000 U.S. cyber jobs vacant, the House Oversight Committee recently advanced the Modernizing the Acquisition of Cybersecurity Experts Act, a new bill that would prohibit mandatory college degree requirements for federal cybersecurity jobs unless there are specific legal requirements.
Similarly, the project management industry is witnessing unprecedented growth and is set to witness an increase in demand over the next few years, with a projected influx of 213,974 new jobs for project talent anticipated in the U.S. annually through 2027.
Merit America will equip learners for entry-level roles in cybersecurity in 20 weeks and project management in 16 weeks. In addition to third-party technical training, learners in both career tracks will benefit from personalized professional skills training and job search support from Merit America coaches.
A recent analysis by the University of Virginia (UVA) found that, on average, completers see an increase of $24,000 in annual wages three or more months after completing Merit America’s program.
“At Merit America, we’re committed to creating opportunities for talented Americans in low-wage roles to thrive in well-paying careers. With the rising demand for roles in cybersecurity and project management, these new career tracks will remove barriers to accessing these promising pathways, transforming untapped potential into career success,” said Merit America Co-Founder and Co-CEO Rebecca Taber Staehelin.
Since its founding in 2018, more than 7,500 learners across the country have participated in Merit America programs, which offer fast and flexible training and job search programs for the more than 53 million Americans stuck in low-wage jobs. Now in its fifth year, Merit America is on track to generate $1 billion in wage gains by 2025 through its work providing technical training through industry-recognized partners and offering best-in-class coaching and peer support to help learners navigate their career paths successfully.
“Through a combination of ‘tech and touch,’ we equip learners with the skills they need to navigate today’s job market. These new tracks will allow us to broaden opportunities for Americans stuck in low-wage work, empowering them for entry-level roles that can act as a springboard to family-sustaining careers,” said Merit America Co-Founder and Co-CEO Connor Diemand-Yauman.
To learn more about Merit America, visit www.meritamerica.org.
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ABOUT MERIT AMERICA
Merit America is a national nonprofit preparing workers stuck in low-wage roles for family-sustaining careers at scale. Named by the New York Times as “the hybrid future of training programs for the disadvantaged,” we offer fast and flexible education and job success programs that work for working adults, and are aligned to the most in-demand roles in the fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. economy. Founded in 2018, we now serve thousands of working learners across the country –on track to our goal of driving $1B in wage gains by 2025. For more information, visit meritamerica.org.