Webinar | Advancing Digital Skills in Rural America: Lessons from the Field

CORI staff share key findings from our Advancing Digital Skilling in Rural America project—a three-year national initiative funded by Ascendium that aimed to expand equitable access to technology careers for rural learners, particularly women, people of color, and low-income individuals.

What You’ll Learn

Drawing from CORI’s work with communities in Ada, Oklahoma; Chambers County, Alabama; Cochise County, Arizona; Selma, Alabama; Taos, New Mexico; and Wilson, North Carolina; we’ll explore:

Trends in rural tech job demand and what employers say they need most
How rural partners engaged over 90 employers and educators to align training with real-world demand
What’s working, what’s challenging, and what’s next for sustainable tech talent ecosystems

You will also hear directly from local leaders in Wilson and Cochise County as they reflect on their on-the-ground experience building pathways that connect rural learners to economic opportunity.

Why It Matters

Rural Americans represent 11% of the national workforce but only 4% of the nation’s tech workforce—a gap driven by limited career exposure, misaligned training programs, and siloed systems. This project revealed that true progress requires coordinated efforts between employers, educators, and community partners, supported by data-driven strategy and clear feedback loops.

This webinar offers actionable insights and a replicable framework to help communities nationwide advance rural tech talent.