The State of Virginia and Microsoft have teamed up to help prepare people for jobs in Virginia.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine recently announced that the state and Microsoft are launching the Microsoft Elevate America program, an innovative public-private partnership to provide free technology training to displaced workers. Microsoft will work with the Virginia Community College System to distribute 11,250 vouchers for technology training and certification.

“Virginia already has one of the best workforce development systems in the country - this program means we’ll have another exciting tool at our disposal,” Kaine said. “This partnership will provide thousands of Virginians with the technology skills they need to attain and sustain employment as the economy recovers. At the same time, this critical training will ensure Virginia’s workforce emerges from this economic downturn stronger than ever, and ready to compete on a global level.”

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Amidst an economy that is shedding several technology jobs, DC IT jobs are continuing to grow.

Companies throughout the industry, from large publicly traded companies to smaller startup companies, have eliminated thousands of workers because of the current economic downturn. And the worst isn’t over yet, according to an article by The Wall Street Journal. However, Washington, D.C. seems to be weathering the storm.

A recent Dice.com survey of corporate hiring managers and other professionals who recruit technology workers showed that there will be fewer job options and more layoffs in the technology industry during the next six months. It also was found that of those who responded to the survey, 20 percent said layoffs were likely within their company, a 9 percent increase from June, and 72 percent said the current state of the economy has caused them to reduce hiring during the next six months, up from 53 percent in June.

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