The Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland (TCCSMD) hosted more than 15 business partners and over 20 regional resource partners for a meeting of the cybersecurity and software development industry partnership alliance on June 18th.
This is the second in a series of meetings being held to discuss the development of a clear pathway for cybersecurity and software business and workforce growth in Southern Maryland.
The group participated in lengthy discussions about retaining and attracting a talented workforce to the Southern Maryland region. Industry representatives discussed the many challenges and obstacles they are facing.
The group also discussed a February 27 article published by 24/7 Wallstreet that named California-Lexington Park, MD the number 1 city in the U.S., with the highest percentage of total jobs classified as STEM-intensive (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). According to the article, nearly a quarter of area’s workforce is employed in STEM Fields. Some of the areas biggest employers are BAE Systems, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. The most common STEM job in the region is aerospace engineer.
STEM jobs are becoming a more and more important part of the U.S. job market. Jobs in STEM often offer better pay and greater job security for employees.
The next meeting of the group with build upon the discussion for training & certification needs within the industry, specific to Southern Maryland. Industry leaders plan to identify the most important certifications and credentials needed for their workforce. The group will also discuss a variety of workforce initiatives that could help the industry in the region – including apprenticeships, K-12 education & local college partnerships, among others.
The third meeting in this series is scheduled to be held the week of September 23rd. The break in between meetings is intended to allow time for businesses to garner new ideas for the group. Regional cybersecurity and software development businesses in this industry are invited to attend and add to the conversation. Contact Lee Greely at lgreely@tccsmd.org if you are interested in attending.