AUSTIN, Texas, May 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Experience™ Inc., announced it has launched AustinTechSource, an online talent community designed to attract experienced, out-of-market technology talent to the Austin area. This initiative is directly responsive to the Austin tech market's need for mid-to-senior level positions, the vibrant presence of which is vital to the region's continued growth. To date, more than 2,000 job seekers from around the country and 37 companies, including Bazaarvoice, Avende, Bridge360, Austin Community College, Ultra ATS, Microsoft and Google, are registered on the online community.
"Economic growth flourishes when employers are able to couple a favorable business climate with the right talent pool," said Clarke Heidrick, Board Chair, Austin Chamber. "As a new talent initiative of the Chamber, AustinTechSource will support all Austin companies, big and small, with their goals of efficiently finding topnotch, experienced tech talent."
The Austin Chamber conducted an analysis of all Central Texas electronic job postings from April 5 - 11, which concluded that, of the 4,453 online job postings, 28%, or 1,231, were classified as tech jobs. "The Job Portal is designed to facilitate nationwide knowledge of – and access to – job opportunities available at technology companies throughout Central Texas," added Heidrick. "The Job Portal is the latest evidence that the Austin Chamber is leveraging the latest social media and web-based tools to expand hiring in the region."
Located at AustinTechSource.com, the site allows employers to post openings, review resumes and connect directly with qualified job-seekers. The private community portal enables referrals between recruiters and prospective hires through integrated social networks and analytics. AustinTechSource also allows partners to offer training and certification classes that will help keep candidates' skills sharp and current.
"The Opportunity Austin-funded Business Retention & Expansion program recently surveyed local tech executives, who indicated a lack of available, in-market, experienced tech talent was a critical barrier to their ability to expand their business," said Bryan Jones, Greater Austin Technology Partnership Chair. "We listened to this feedback and created the AustinTechSource portal to provide them with access to the additional experienced talent they need to be successful."
According to Drew Scheberle, Senior Vice President of Talent and Education at the Austin Chamber, the portal intends to attract 5,000 tech candidates from outside of Central Texas. "The current gap and need for talent acquisition among Austin technology companies was brought to the forefront after the SXSW soft launch of AustinTechSource, after which the portal gained more than 900 registered companies and individuals," he said.
The goal for the future of AustinTechSource includes combining the strength of Austin's current technology sector with a world-class, efficient technology jobs resource. Local Central Texas colleges, including University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University, Texas A & M, St. Edward's, Concordia, Huston-Tillotson, Southwestern, and Austin Community College, have been and will remain Chamber partners in educating and cultivating Austin's entry level technology workers.
About the Austin Chamber of Commerce
The Austin Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, membership-driven organization comprised of 2,500 business enterprises, civic organizations, education institutions and individuals. Its mission is to provide leadership that will help create regional economic prosperity and success for its members in Central Texas.
About Opportunity Austin
Opportunity Austin is the Chamber's regional, five-year economic development initiative to foster sustainable growth through the creation of new jobs and increased payroll in the Central Texas region.
About Experience, Inc.
Experience has been the leading provider of career services for colleges and universities since 1996. Today, 5 million students and recent graduates use the Experience network to find entry-level jobs and internships, and to access information that helps them bridge the gap between school and the professional world. Over 3,800 colleges and universities are in the Experience network, connecting students and graduates with over 130,000 employers and recruiters that use Experience to connect with the best, qualified entry-level talent.