US looks to bring IT jobs to rural communities

16:45 6th May 2009

The US is looking to increase the availability of IT jobs in rural areas by providing new IT training services aimed at these communities.

The Rural Technology Fund, a new organisation dedicated to encouraging students from small towns in rural America to pursue IT jobs, is providing two new scholarships designed to provide young people in rural areas with the IT training that will help them access careers in technology.

"I grew up in a rural community, and I know how few resources were available in schools and at home for students who wanted to prepare for a career with computers," explained Judith A Sanders, who is backing one of the scholarships.

She added: "I want to change that by helping rural high school students get money for college - and I want to challenge information technology businesses to help us make a difference, one student at a time."

The UK is also putting an increased focus on developing new IT training initiatives for young people and employees.

For example, ministers are expected to support proposals being prepared that would see IT become a central focus of all primary education, which would require greater IT training for primary school teachers.