According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Computer and Information Technology Occupations, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm, Overall employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032. About 377,500 openings are projected each year, on average, in these occupations due to employment growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupations permanently. The median annual wage for this group was $104,420 in May 2023, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $48,060.

 Demand for these workers will stem from greater emphasis on cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, and information security. In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2020, there will be more than 1.4 million computer science-related jobs available, but only 400,000 qualified candidates to fill them. This represents a huge opportunity for today’s young people.

In 2018, the 4-H National Youth Science Day experiment (now known as the National 4-H STEM Challenge), Code Your World, was introduced to help teach youth ages 8-14 to apply CS to the world around them through hands-on activities. Developed by Google and West Virginia University Extension Service, it includes a computer-based activity on Google’s CS First platform and three unplugged activities that bring coding to life through games and interaction. This program introduced Computational Thinking concepts such as Decomposition (breaking big problems into smaller, more manageable ones), Pattern Recognition (understanding how to look for and analyze repeating sequences), Abstraction (simplifying complex problems by ignoring irrelevant information) and Algorithm Design (creating step-by-step instructions on how to accomplish a task.

Since then, Kentucky 4-H has partnered with Apple Education for a three-county pilot program, the Apple Community Education Initiative. As part of Apple’s ongoing commitment to education, the Community Education Initiatives (CEI) team partners with organizations that are creating equitable access to high-growth, high-demand jobs in technical, creative, and education careers. CEI partners with K–12 to postsecondary schools, nonprofits, and local organizations in communities that have been under-resourced and underrepresented in technology. CEI partners design, develop, and lead lifelong pathways in their communities that focus on coding, creativity, and community-connected learning. Partners join and engage in the CEI community—we learn together, think together, and improve outcomes for all.

One county in each of the three geographic regions in the Commonwealth have received nearly $35,000 each in equipment, funding, and training materials to help youth in their counties by:

• Advancing learning opportunities and outcomes in STEAM with a focus on coding, creativity, and community-connected learning in communities that are traditionally under-resourced;

• Designing and launching learning opportunities that use Apple’s Swift programming language, Apple technology, and Apple learning resources to address and impact community challenges and;

• Inspiring, supporting, and growing educator knowledge and experience through professional learning programs that result in high-impact programming for community learners.

Programs in Hopkins, Fayette, and Floyd Counties will start in the fall in multiple Elementary and Middle schools, Community Centers, Libraries, and other community programs to help youth learn how to develop applications, podcasts, and educational resources to help address challenges and provide growth opportunities.