Building a Center of Excellence for Tech Talent in Kansas City
Recently, KC TechBridge brought together educators and employers for a dynamic solution session on the future of tech talent in our region. The goal: to surface shared challenges, spark innovative solutions, and chart the path of collective impact.
What We Heard
Across the discussion, several themes rose to the top:
Communication & Alignment: Employers and educators need a clearer, shared language around skills, pathways, and outcomes.
Skills & Readiness: Beyond technical ability, employers are asking for “human skills” like communication, adaptability, and problem-solving—while educators are seeking clarity on how to weave these into curricula.
Employer Representation Matters: Beyond the well-known employer brands, there are hundreds of smaller employers that lack the awareness and capacity to engage in workforce efforts individually. Smaller employers also struggle to access resources that larger organizations can leverage.
Systems & Policy: Misalignment between policy requirements, curriculum flexibility, and real-time employer demand creates friction in preparing students for tech careers.
The Opportunities Ahead
Participants didn’t just name problems—they envisioned solutions:
A common definition of success for aligning practices co-created by employers and educators that accounts for the unique incentives and limitations of each.
A shared framework that brings clarity to navigating job openings and requirements.
A regional approach to partnerships that includes everyone, where employers can connect to schools, training providers, and job seekers.
Policy advocacy to enable more flexible, responsive curriculum and incentivize efficient engagement for educators while also bringing confidence in non-traditional learning paths to employers through work-based learning opportunities like apprenticeships.
Why It Matters
Kansas City’s tech ecosystem is growing, but demand for talent consistently outpaces supply. By creating a Center of Excellence for Hiring Tech Talent, we can align our region around a common framework, streamline pathways, and ensure that equity is at the center of our approach.
The Next Step
Employers and Educators have proposed solutions, and now it’s time for talent to check their work. Together, we can build a stronger tech economy, enhance hiring outcomes, and expand opportunities for all who aspire to work in tech.
