In response to nationwide demand for a cybersecurity talent pipeline, Skillionaire Games, a subsidiary of skillsgapp, a company that develops free-to-play mobile gaming apps that help middle and high school-aged+ youth achieve life-changing career awareness and localized pathway access, as well as develop the soft skills necessary to pursue jobs in skills-based industries through game-changing play, is pleased to announce the launch of its latest product, 'Cyber Watchdog'.
In collaboration with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and California's Department of Education, Cyber Watchdog is launching this fall on Google Play and App Store, with customized career and pathway content specific to the 'Inland Empire'.
The U.S. National Initiative for Cyber-Security Careers and Studies (NICCS) indicates that America's demand for cybersecurity experts is growing up to 12 times faster when compared to the current U.S. job market. And amid the struggle for talent acquisition in light of America's daunting 'Great Resignation' in 2022, these findings make cybersecurity one of the most highly sought-after careers for employers across the country.
Presently, it has been reported that up to 95% of Gen Z has access to a smartphone, making mobile gaming technology an optimal platform for engaging youth in both unlocking the skills needed to access careers within, for example, aerospace, automotive, life science, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, STEM, cybersecurity, and skilled trades, as well as in exploring the regionally-relevant pathways to each student's specific career achievement or interests.
Under the company's ethos that “everyone has a hire purpose,” Cyber Watchdog hopes to address the vast skills gap unique to the cyber-security arena by exposing more kids, specifically those in underserved populations, to the opportunities that are right in front of them.
Cyber Watchdog gameplay includes mini games inspired by the NICCS curriculum and include decoding binary data, password hashing, password strength, PC building, addressing phishing scams and utilizing a codex to unlock key cyber lexicon, all while offering players customizable avatar accessories to represent local cyber jobs, salaries and diversity, equity and inclusion ('DEI'). At the end of each level, every player is provided with relevant, local educational pathways and prospective apprenticeships to be pursued in real life and in real-time.
Cynthia Jenkins, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for skillsgapp, stated that: “Gamified workforce technology is the only scalable solution available that can address our skills gap quickly. By engaging kids earlier in their preferred medium that goes wherever they go, they're in the driver's seat of navigating a meaningful career, void of any stigmas passed down from previous generations.”
Skillsgapp's overarching mission is to connect youth to life-changing careers through game-changing play, with an emphasis on underserved communities.
“Advancing our resiliencies as a country in the geo-commercially and politically competitive arena of cybersecurity will safeguard our businesses, our communities, and our families. We were pleased to offer Cyber Watchdog as a free-to-play model through our regional, licensed partnerships and look forward to its continued success in new states and regions, pioneering both modern-era education and career awareness so direly needed in America today, as well as facilitating in often underserved communities equal access to great-paying careers,” states Tina Zwolinski, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for skillsgapp.
To find out more about Skillsgapp's gamified workforce development in your region or state through mobile apps and much more, visit http://www.skillsgapp.com or contact us at 864.469.9340. To connect with skillsgapp CEO, Tina Zwolinski, reach out at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinazwolinski.
— WebWireID292821 —
