NAIMI News:
The North American Intelligent Manufacturing Initiative (NAIMI), in partnership with the University of New Mexico (UNM) Los Alamos branch and the Regional Development Corporation, will be hosting a workshop on building New Mexico’s cybersecurity and Information Technology (IT) workforce in New Mexico. This free workshop is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 14, at the UNM-Los Alamos branch campus.
In late 2022, the North American Intelligent Manufacturing Initiative (NAIMI) was awarded a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to help advance a strong cybersecurity and Information Technology (IT) workforce in the electric grid and advanced manufacturing sectors in northern New Mexico. NAIMI’s work on the grant has included outreach to universities and colleges to better understand current curriculum and needs for future curriculum, surveying business and industry on workforce needs, developing mentoring models and working with local economic development organizations. The outcome of the project will be a roadmap for job creation, program development, education of businesses and communities to address cybersecurity threats.
“Having an available workforce is an essential element in attracting businesses and manufacturers to New Mexico. We see this as an opportunity to help build New Mexico’s economy and ensure that students have employment opportunities that allow them to stay here,” said Dr. Thomas Bowles, Executive Director of NAIMI. “This workshop will help us explore possible partnerships and programs that could encourage students to explore these high-tech, high-wage jobs.”
The need for an increased cybersecurity workforce has been highlighted by the FBI Infragard program and the NM Cybersecurity Act. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that “information security analyst” will be the 10th fastest growing occupation over the next decade. The majority of these (entry to mid-level) positions do not require certifications and allow employers to cast a wider net for candidates. According to the Bureau, the expected job growth in cybersecurity is 35 percent from 2021 to 2031, which is an increase of 56,500 jobs at average salaries of $102,600/yr.
About NAIMI:
NAIMI’s mission is to work to make global manufacturing in the United States globally competitive. NAIMI staff members are recognized leaders in their fields, and several have received national recognition in their areas of expertise. NAIMI recently developed a Clean Energy Economy Roadmap to grow jobs around the use of clean energy. For more information, visit www.naimi.us.