Building a Scalable Cybersecurity Talent Pipeline for the Public Sector
How Los Angeles County’s Internal Services Department partnered with Per Scholas to launch a registered cybersecurity apprenticeship program.
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Why LA County Needed a New Tech Talent Pipeline
As LA County accelerated digital modernization, it faced mounting challenges in recruiting, training, and retaining IT talent.
Key barriers included:
- Competition with the private sector, limiting access to skilled tech talent.
- Aging technology infrastructure, requiring new skills and adaptability.
- Degree-based hiring requirements, excluding many qualified STARs (Skilled Through Alternative Routes).
- Growing demand for secure, modern digital services from residents.
Key Insights
What This Partnership Reveals About Public-Sector Talent Innovation
- Persistence and coordination are essential
Launching a public-sector apprenticeship requires sustained effort and close coordination across departments and with the state. Large government systems demand consistent communication and follow-through. - Experienced training partners expand capacity
Per Scholas provided professional-level instruction, learner support, and apprenticeship expertise the County lacked internally—streamlining implementation and strengthening outcomes. - Credentials signal readiness—but workforce demand determines outcomes.
The program’s success in certifications revealed a critical insight: apprenticeships drive the greatest impact when training, placements, and real hiring needs move in sync.
You can't modernize government with yesterday's hiring practices
See how LA County partnered with Per Scholas to build a skills-based tech talent pipeline — and what the effort reveals about the future of public-sector workforce development.