How an Underutilized Workforce Can Solve Your IT Talent Shortage
In a world where technology grows in every aspect of our lives, being able to understand it and work with it becomes a requirement for the 21st century workforce. IT-related skills are also something all employers look for when hiring, especially for people to support government contracts.
Whether it's cybersecurity, data management, or artificial intelligence, we know the need for IT-related services is growing in the federal and commercial sectors. What may not be as commonly known is an underutilized part of the workforce that is able and ready to fill those roles. The AbilityOne® Program connects people with disabilities, including veterans, to employment opportunities through a nationwide network of federal contractors. Right now, that also means leaning into those 21st century technology ventures and preparing people with disabilities to fill more IT-related services for federal customers.
It's hard to talk about technology without mentioning artificial intelligence. There are misperceptions that artificial intelligence may take jobs away from people with disabilities. The reality is that artificial intelligence can help those employees increase their work and improve their efficiency.
Application of new technology and automation increases the capacity and capability to provide products, Made in America, to the federal government. Deliberate, thoughtful application of new technology and automation enables federal contractors focused on employing people with disabilities to take on more contracts because of an increase in efficiency and production. What people may perceive as a job killer is in fact a job enhancer. Pairing artificial intelligence with robotics and automation creates employment pathways for people with disabilities.
People with disabilities have demonstrated that they are the brain behind artificial intelligence. One AbilityOne federal contractor works almost exclusively with people with autism. Those employees help train artificial intelligence in the markup language needed to use tags or symbols that annotate text to display or interpret the images. They are teaching a security screening system how to discern between benign pieces of luggage versus real threats through images. That example, applying individuals' skills and knowledge to another situation, demonstrates the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Some of those other emerging technologies include cybersecurity and data management. Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity really go hand in hand to make sure that we comply with government mandates. The storage of data, how to use it and where to put it, and having it ready for purpose-driven missions is key. AbilityOne employees perform cybersecurity today to support the Air Force and the Department of War and are valued contributors who support the warfighter. The Central Nonprofit Agencies working under the AbilityOne Program, SourceAmerica® and National Industries for the Blind, are preparing a workforce for what is next.
As part of the network's expansion into IT services, these two agencies are making sure their workforce has the necessary training to give people the skills and certifications to perform those roles and responsibilities. These certifications are part of the DoDM 8140.03 Cyberspace Workforce Qualification and Management Program and apply to roles such as technical support specialists, system administrators, database administrators, system developers, and testing and evaluation specialists.
For the upcoming NASA SEWP VI Government Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC), AbilityOne employees will provide a comprehensive range of high-quality information technology, communication, and audio-visual solutions as subcontractors. Some of those roles include IT help desk, contact center, data management, managed service support and much more. This collaborative effort ensures fulfillment of technical requirements and plays a vital role to help prime contractors meet mandatory AbilityOne subcontracting goals required under the SEWP VI GWAC.
The AbilityOne Program is an engine of opportunity and economic empowerment for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. Whether it's artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, contact centers, or IT services, AbilityOne federal contractors have a qualified and capable work force that is ready, willing, and certified to do the work. Now, we need others to see that and tap into it.
For more information and introductions to qualified AbilityOne SEWP VI nonprofits, contact us at primecontractor@abilityone.org
If you or someone you know is looking for a job, the SourceAmerica Job Board connects people with disabilities seeking employment with positions available through nonprofit agencies in the SourceAmerica network.
The mention of the U.S. Government in this article does not imply endorsement by the government of the product or service provided by the nonprofit agency to the government.