Connecticut Tech Talent Accelerator

Connecticut is committed to fostering a competitive workforce that enables individuals and organizations to thrive economically in a time of rapid and constant technological change. With an eye on the future, its leaders have recognized that they must fully leverage its higher education ecosystem in collaboration with businesses in the state to meet the growing demand for tech talent.

In 2022, the state of Connecticut provided funds to launch the Tech Talent Accelerator (TTA), led by the Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) and the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE). This investment, followed by another round of funding in 2023, leveraged BHEF’s partnership methodology to catalyze the development of higher education-business partnerships and create new tech talent pathways to high-demand fields like cybersecurity, data analytics, game design and more. Across two phases of the initiative, TTA developed 15 new or updated business-validated pathways and credentials with 26 Connecticut employers and 12 institutions of higher education. These programs enrolled over 700 learners who earned nearly 120 industry-recognized credentials and over 100 of whom participated in related internships.

To keep CT at the forefront of technological change, a third round of investment in TTA will focus on building AI skills pathways and partnerships to ensure CT workers are equipped with the skills and credentials needed across all jobs and disciplines.

Events

AI Is Transforming Connecticut’s In-Demand Roles, Help Us Prepare for What Comes Next

The Connecticut AI Skills Model: As part of Phase 3 of the Connecticut Tech Talent Accelerator, we are developing a Connecticut AI Skills Model to identify in-demand roles being transformed by AI and better align education and training programs with workforce needs across the state. Drawing on national frameworks, labor-market data, and insights from industry experts, we are developing and validating competency maps for Connecticut’s most impacted roles, starting with Business Analysts and Software Developers. The finalized competency maps will help assess upskilling and reskilling needs for current workers, guide curriculum updates and new program design, and increase statewide alignment between employer needs and education pathways. The finalized competency maps will build upon and inform BHEF’s AI-Enabled Professional Framework.

Get Involved: Inform the Connecticut AI Skills Model
Calling Software Developers and Business Analysts in Connecticut

We’re hosting two in-person AI Skills Competency Mapping Workshops and inviting subject-matter experts to join a small group of Business Analysts or Software Developers to:

Connect with peers navigating similar shifts in AI-enabled development
Identify the most essential AI-related skills for your role
Help shape degree programs and upskilling/reskilling pathways
Access talent with cutting edge industry-validated training from leading CT institutions

Business Analyst – AI Competency Mapping Workshop
Jan 28, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Accenture, Hartford | RSVP by Jan 16

Software Developer – AI Competency Mapping Workshop
Jan 29, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | ClimateHaven, New Haven | RSVP by Jan 16

TTA 3.0

To meet the burgeoning demand for AI-skilled tech talent and keep Connecticut’s workforce competitive, the state must deploy its entire higher education ecosystem, including community colleges, four-year public and independent colleges and universities, and the K-12 system. Each sector and institution has a critical role to play in preparing graduates for the workplace, and in reskilling and upskilling incumbent workers.

TTA 3.0 will increase AI skills acquisition in Connecticut through strong business-higher education partnerships, with a focus on four priority areas:

Reskill/Upskill the Tech Workforce for AI Competencies: Develop short-term post-secondary programs (or update existing ones) focused on reskilling and upskilling those currently employed within industries that have a high demand for AI competencies.
Align Post-Secondary Training Programs with Industry AI Needs: Embed industry-recognized credentials to align post-secondary training programs with the AI skills needs of Connecticut businesses.
Expand Work-Integrated Learning Opportunities: Create AI-focused work-integrated learning models that meet learner and employer needs and goals, providing additional feedback loops between the classroom and workplace and strengthening the state’s talent pipeline.
Create Pathways to AI Skills Development for Secondary Students: Develop dual-enrollment pathways or short-term secondary programs aimed at preparing secondary students with AI skills.

Related Resources

Case Study

The Connecticut Tech Talent Accelerator: Partnerships Closing the Tech Skills Gap

Labor Market Information on AI Skills and Industry Transformation:

Microsoft, Working with AI: Measuring the Occupational Implications of Generative AI
Lightcast, Beyond the Buzz
Stanford, Artificial Intelligence AI Index Report 2025
PwC, The Fearless Future: 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer
World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report 2025

Partnership Tools

The WPI Playbook: How Business-Education Partnerships Prepare Tomorrow’s Talent

Contact

Email: techtalentaccelerator@bhef.com

Candace Williams, Senior Director, BHEF
Madison Myers, Manager of Workforce Programs, BHEF
Robert Merth, Associate Director of Policy & Research, NEBHE