State of California zSystems Registered Apprenticeship Program Awarded Best Workforce Initiative

On August 20th, 2024, the State of California zSystems registered apprenticeship program was awarded the Best Workforce Initiative at the 2024 California Government Innovation Summit. The summit “brings together public-sector professionals and leading industry partners with a focus on technology to connect on innovative approaches, get inspired, and discover new technologies.”

The Best Workforce Initiative award “recognizes innovative programs, strategies, policies, reorganizations, or applications of technology that significantly increase productivity, flexibility, training, recruitment, retention, or general job satisfaction.” This award highlights initiatives that demonstrate cutting-edge approaches to workforce development and management, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence. Established in 2019, the zSystems apprenticeship program was developed by Kelly Mackey, State Director of Strategic Partnerships of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, in collaboration with Stephen Dodd, Project Executive at IBM, Sarah McGinn, Apprenticeship Coordinator at SEIU  Local 1000, Julie Whitten, former Undersecretary of Government Operations (GovOps) and leadership at the California Department of Technology (CDT). The program was launched with a $500,000 California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) grant, and has sustained and scaled with the support of Apprenticeship Innovation Funding (AIF). This innovative, first-of-its-kind in the nation, public/private registered apprenticeship program consists of three occupations including software engineer, application developer, and mainframe systems administrator.  

This groundbreaking apprenticeship program was designed to assist several state departments who at the time were confronting a projected 38% vacancy rate over five years in critical mainframe system occupations. These vital roles administer technology to support programs like unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, and all DMV transactions. 
Since its inception, the program has launched three cohorts and serves as a blueprint for other states that have modeled their programs after it. The State of California zSystems registered apprenticeship program continues to innovate, create pathways to success, and serve as a beacon for future apprenticeship programs.

October 2024