Systemic and economic barrier taxonomy across the technology learning and workforce ecosystem¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 4 claims (4 for) · 5 studies (3 review, 1 associational, 1 theoretical), q1–q2 · 0 of 5 report an effect size · 3 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The scan organizes barriers to Black learners' and workers' technology career entry and advancement into six ecosystem layers: educational and training opportunities, social capital access, financial capital access and economic mobility, career entry, career advancement, and career retention supports (Table 1), with a second axis of compounding intersectional barriers (Table 2). It states these barriers "are particularly persistent and compounding for intersecting identities of Black learners and workers." The taxonomy underpins the report's three strategic areas of action for employers, educators, and policymakers.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Requires attention across every level of the technology learning and workforce ecosystem, from K-12 through career retention

Constraints¶

• Barriers are documented for the U.S. technology learning and workforce ecosystem context as scanned in this report

Target Learners¶

• Black adult learners and workers pursuing non-four-year-degree technology careers
• Black K-12 learners exploring technology pathways

Target Learning Objectives¶

• Increased awareness of systemic barriers shaping technology career access
• Equitable access to technology education, training, and career advancement

Claims¶

• Venture Funding One Percent Black Entrepreneurs [+M]
• Black Americans 8 Percent Tech Occupation Jobs [+M]
• Computer programmer employment is projected to decline 10% from 2021 to 2031 due to automation, and apprenticeships placed in automation-vulnerable pathways risk reinforcing disparities [+W]
• Financial and economic constraints shape first-generation chemists' career decisions, sometimes deterring advanced training altogether [+W]

Related Theories¶

• The skills-first ecosystem framework
• State Digital Equity and Opportunity Framework: five domains across education, workforce, and housing sectors

Examples¶

• Three strategic actions: build awareness of underrepresentation, invest in accessible pathways, and prioritize retention strategies
• Co-designed recommendations for education/training providers: partnerships, wrap-around supports, and equitable recruitment

Key Sources¶

• Carter, B., Shah, Z., Tinsley, B., LeGrand-Dunn, J., Luke Luna, C. (2023, August). Understanding the supports and skills that enable successful pathways for Black learners and workers into non-four-year degree technology careers: A landscape scan. Digital Promise. https://doi.org/10.51388/20.500.12265/189