Hawaii-2022-SR59-Introduced

WHEREAS, information technology has become a significant component of Hawaii's economy that propels the prosperity of the State as an economic driver that covers a wide range of industries; and

WHEREAS, according to a report titled "Hawai‘i IT Workforce Needs Report" published in November 2021 by SMS Research and Marketing Services, Inc. ("SMS Report"), the information technology industry contributed $2,037,000,000 or 2.2 percent to Hawaii's total nominal gross domestic products (GDP) in 2018; and

WHEREAS, despite not contributing as much nominal GDP as the real estate, accommodation, and retail industries, the information technology industry had the highest annual real GDP growth rate among all sectors between 2001 and 2018 at 4.9 percent; and

WHEREAS, in 2020, the information technology sector in Hawaii encompassed 12,740 jobs, 3,834 hires, and 894 average annual job openings; and

WHEREAS, the average hourly wage for Hawaii's technology industry is $39.92, which is more than double the $15.53 survival level hourly wage for individuals in the State as reported in the 2020 ALICE Report for Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that the projected increase in computer and technology occupations between 2020 to 2030 is thirteen percent nationally, however, the projected employment increase in the computer and mathematics occupation group in Hawaii between 2018 and 2028 is limited to seven percent; and

WHEREAS, the demand for employees in the information technology field in Hawaii exceeds the number of available individuals seeking jobs in the industry; and

WHEREAS, ensuring that the State's workforce has an adequate and efficient education in information technology is essential for the continued growth of Hawaii's economy; and

WHEREAS, to develop a thriving information technology workforce, the State must improve various aspects of its workforce development programs; and

WHEREAS, one of the fundamental components of building a robust qualified workforce is the collection of relevant data that will enable better evaluation of available programs and contribute to better planning for the future; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is requested to:

(1) Collect data relating to the development of an information technology workforce in Hawaii, which should include but not be limited to:

(A) Courses, trainings, and programs currently being offered in Hawaii relating to information technology;

(B) Information technology internship programs offered by public and private organizations in Hawaii;

(i) The category or type of certifications and licenses; and

(ii) The number of certificates and licenses issued each year by category or type; and

(D) Current information on the individuals who completed the courses, training, or programs, or obtained the certificates or licenses, including:

(i) Their occupation;

(ii) The industry they work in; and

(iii) The state or country they currently reside;

(2) Evaluate the collected data and develop a strategy to provide better information technology training to individuals and retain them in Hawaii to build a flourishing information technology workforce in Hawaii; and

(3) Submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Director of Labor and Industrial Relations.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Information Technology Workforce; Data Collection; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	59
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII