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City hears TechSF update; supervisors press for data and deeper industry engagement
Summary
The committee heard an overview of TechSF workforce efforts to place San Franciscans in tech jobs, with OEWD and partners reporting placements, apprenticeships and new initiatives; supervisors and community groups pressed for clearer placement and demographic metrics and a plan to deepen private‑sector hiring of local residents.
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee held a hearing Sept. 27 on TechSF, the city’s sector‑based workforce initiative for tech jobs. Presenters from the Controller’s Office, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), San Francisco Unified School District and City College described program structure, outcomes to date and planned innovations.
Asim Khan of the Controller’s Office reviewed labor‑market trends, noting tech’s disproportionate payroll share in San Francisco and a modest slowdown in tech employment since mid‑2015. Kat Daniel (OEWD) and Patrick Mitchell (TechSF program manager) outlined TechSF’s model: industry‑informed training delivered through community partners, internships and a pipeline approach. OEWD reported more than 650 companies have hired TechSF graduates, cited roughly 1,200 internships, and said the average wage for a TechSF graduate exceeds $30 an hour. Mitchell described new initiatives including a registered apprenticeship, LinkedIn online learning pilots and partnerships (LaborX) to connect employers to diverse candidate pools.
Education partners described alignment efforts: SFUSD is piloting internships and career‑pathway coursework; City College described certificate and degree offerings in computer science, computer networking/IT, broadcasting and video media, dual enrollment increases and cyber security camp pilots.
Community commenters and workforce partners urged deeper private‑sector engagement and better public reporting. Commenters asked how low‑income residents, older workers and English learners access TechSF pipelines and requested an annual public report with disaggregated metrics (placements, retention, by job type, race and gender). OEWD said it will produce more detailed data and committed to an annual report and policy recommendations to deepen industry hiring.
Supervisors requested specific metrics on placement types, wages, retention and upward mobility; OEWD agreed to provide an annual report and to return with policy recommendations. Chair Ronan continued the item to the call of the chair for further follow‑up.
