Labor & Industry Highlights Pittsburgh Pre-Apprenticeship Program Preparing Pennsylvanians for Careers in Video Game Development

​Pittsburgh, PA - The director of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry's (L&I) Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO), Tara Loew, today attended the Simcoach Games 2022 Summer Apprenticeship FinaleOpens In A New Window product demonstration in Pittsburgh, celebrating the conclusion of a six-week registered pre-apprenticeship program that gives young Pennsylvanians the opportunity to learn technical skills needed for careers in video game development.

"Simcoach Games is at the forefront of creating engaging and transformative video games that shape how we learn about the world and, perhaps more importantly, how we learn about ourselves as an individual, a worker or someone's colleague," Loew said. "Registered pre-apprenticeship programs like Simcoach's allow young learners to gain meaningful experiences while preparing to enter the workforce, potentially through a registered apprenticeship, and fuel a diverse talent pipeline in innovative industries like video game development. It's a win-win for the future of Pennsylvania's workforce and its businesses."

Over six weeks, 40 pre-apprentices were employed in the Simcoach Game Design studio and learned software development, game design and social-emotional skills with the goal of making participation in learning an immersive, personal experience for the end user.

During their finale demonstration, the pre-apprentices presented 10 neurodiverse and sustainable game experiences, designed to be interactive video games that address real-life challenges, including the impact climate change has on humans, as well as ways to improve learning, autonomy, and soft skills among individuals with autism.

During the product demonstration, L&I was joined by Brian Kaleida, CEO of Simcoach Games, and Sandeepa Kaleida, CEO of Simcoach Games' parent company, Sigma Resources.

"It has been truly inspiring to see these young people build technology solutions to address complex problems through highly engaging online experiences," said Julie Linnelli, director of operations for Sigma Resources. "We are beyond excited for their products to be implemented in ways that further impact positive change."

In 2020, Simcoach Games' was acquired by Sigma ResourcesOpens In A New Window, a woman-, minority-owned company that focuses on information technology, data analytics, and software development. Simcoach Games' registered pre-apprenticeship serves as a pipeline to its registered apprenticeship program, which prepares individuals for the role of Junior Game Developer - the first program of its kind in Pennsylvania. As a 2022 Schools-To-Work Program award recipient, Sigma Resources has committed to train and mentor 120 pre-apprentices over the next three years.

APPRENTICESHIPS UNDER THE WOLF ADMINISTRATION

Established in 2016, the ATO supports and expands registered pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs statewide. As one part of Governor Tom Wolf's PAsmart framework, the office provides outreach, education, and technical support to current and prospective program sponsors and apprentices. The ATO aims to expand the apprenticeship model to non-traditional occupations and ensure opportunities are available to under-represented and underserved communities across Pennsylvania. The ATO currently supports more than 17,000 active apprentices, nearly 5,000 new apprentices, and more than 1,580 active occupation-specific apprenticeship programs around the commonwealth.

The Wolf Administration has directly invested more than $28 million in Pennsylvania apprenticeship programs since 2018, focused on increasing academic training in computer sciences, science, technology, engineering, and math education to strengthen Pennsylvania's workforce.

L&I estimates that, on average, apprentices earn a starting wage of $70,000 per year after graduation and are on track to earn $300,000 more over their careers compared to workers who don't graduate from an apprenticeship program. For every dollar spent on apprenticeships, employers get an average of $1.47 back in increased productivity.

MEDIA CONTACT: Alex Peterson, [email protected]

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