Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based PNC Bank is expanding its PartnerUp career pathway initiative to Cleveland, Ohio, and Birmingham, Alabama, after a successful five-year run in western Pennsylvania. PartnerUp aims to steer high school graduates into well-paying careers in industries with plenty of room for growth.

"With PartnerUp's expansion, we're working with more employers and local education partners to provide local high school graduates with the skills needed to land entry-level careers in high-demand industries like healthcare and financial services without the burden of student loan debt," says PNC Chief Human Resources Officer Vicki Henn. "As a talent-focused company, we're committed to investing in impactful skills development programs and educational initiatives that help drive career growth and economic opportunity in the communities we serve."

The program began in 2018 and has since partnered with 30 schools to offer more than 6,000 high school students the opportunity to join a high-growth industry. It's become even more of a necessity since the program's inception, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing worker shortages across the US. The multisession program offers in-school career development resources such as resume writing, interview coaching, and employer recruitment events throughout the school year.