Elon Musk's xAI project will need a talented tech workforce. Will Memphians get in on it?

On June 5, the Greater Memphis Chamber announced Elon Musk's plans to bring his xAI "Gigafactory of Compute," the world's largest supercomputer, to Memphis . This technological development has brought a glaring spotlight to Memphis' technology sector and its importance in the Memphis economy.

Community and non-profit leaders are championing this development as a way to accelerate the Memphis economy and bring Memphis to the forefront of the tech world. However, this development has also highlighted the importance of diversity in the tech workspace.

While Memphis ranks first in diversity among peer cities, according to the Greater Chamber of Memphis, many underrepresented communities still encounter roadblocks to success in the tech industry

Diversity in tech

According to a report released by the Greater Memphis Chamber, Memphis has the most diverse Computer and Information Technology workforce among its peer cities, as defined in partnership with the Brookings Institute.

Women are well represented in the workforce compared to peer cities. Women are represented at 37% while the peer city average is 35%.

Although Memphis' tech workspace is diverse compared to its peer cities, tech educators still acknowledge the progress that can be made.

Meka Egwuekwe, co-founder and executive director of CodeCrew , a non-profit that uplifts underrepresented youth through IT training, recognizes the unique hurdles underrepresented communities have to overcome. People "often opt to leave because of the discriminatory practices and so forth that they encounter in the workplace or the discriminatory insensitivity," Meka said. According to the report released by the Greater Memphis Chamber, Black Computer and Information talent rests at 25% in Memphis. Although, nearly 65% of the Memphis population is Black, according to the United States Census Bureau.

Learn more: Why Greater Memphis Chamber believes Elon Musk's xAI will change city's future trajectory

Related: What utility support could xAI supercomputer need? MLGW CEO updates Memphis City Council

Oftentimes it goes unacknowledged, "how isolating it can be to be the only African American, the only woman, or the only Latino in the space," Egwuekwe said of underrepresented communities.

Tecora Murray, Executive Director of the Greater Memphis Economic Research Group, said about her experience, "I never knew people like me were out here doing the same work until I started going to conferences."

Roadblocks, challenges, and pathways

Community members and tech educators point to the many resources for tech training in Memphis, yet they conclusively cite that many roadblocks stand in the way.

Egwuekwe emphasized the importance of creating pathways for talented citizens not just where they are, but also, "where they've been left." The lack of tech training in the K-12 school system or personal challenges are often roadblocks to progress in their tech education and careers.

Tech901 Executive Director Aaron Lamey noted a similar obstacle that many of his students face. While students have access to the certification training programs offered by Tech901, they encounter many challenges that keep them from completing them.

Lamey, said about his students, "The requirements to be prepared for taking one of these pathways are high... we have an entrance exam, that's roughly a 10th, 11th grade verbal and math skills. And some people struggle with that."

Tech901 recently engaged in a study with Slingshot Memphis, called Memworks , to address the roadblocks that limit equal representation in high-paying jobs and educational programs. By analyzing workforce data associated with the impoverished population, this report identified 10 key areas that stand in the way of achieving a successful career.

As Lamey pointed out, "100,000 Memphians experiencing poverty are in need of academic remediation to access career & technical education that can unlock living-wage jobs" according to the report.

Trauma, childcare, lack of transportation, and a general lack of resources and communication are factors that prevent impoverished communities from making a living wage. According to the report, "an estimated 200,000 people in Memphis are experiencing poverty or are at risk of poverty, with more than 8 in 10 of those being people of color."

"They have the aptitude to do the work. We got to figure out a way to make sure that they're plugged in and doing it," said Egwuekwe.

Technology accelerates the Memphis economy

The recent developments regarding Musk's xAI supercomputer have brought Memphis to the forefront of the "tech world." Indeed it has made the city "more marketable," according to Murray.

But, this development highlights the importance of a robust IT sector to bolster the Memphis economy.

According to the Greater Memphis Chamber, the IT sector in Memphis has grown 15% over the past 10 years and is projected to grow an additional 12% in the next five years. Murray hopes the IT sector will become even stronger with companies like xAI moving to Memphis.

When asked why tech training is so useful, local tech educators pointed to its ubiquity and versatility. Technology, data analytics, data visualization, software development, and computer science are interwoven into every other industry.

More: Could xAI supercomputer help turn Memphis into a tech hub? Why these researchers say yes

Related: What's next for xAI in Memphis and could more Elon Musk companies be headed to city?

Tecia Marshall, the Memphis Chapter lead at Black Girls Code said, "Tech knowledge fuels just about everything else."

Marshall works extensively with young Black women interested in a variety of career paths. They want to become interior designers, culinary specialists, and architects. Though software development may not be part of their job description, "technology is going to fuel you as an interior designer," she says.

Others echoed her.

"Technology is something that accelerates everything else," said Lamey. "Having a workforce that is adept in utilizing technology to get those jobs done is an accelerator for the Memphis economy."

All leaders emphasize the importance of having strong computational skills to be a functioning member of society.

"We need to make sure that we are building in a healthy, vibrant tech ecosystem where we're building in the pathways for all the tech roles," said Egwuekwe.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Elon Musk's xAI project will need a talented tech workforce. Will Memphians get in on it?