By Nate Dillard   The Big Picture: ISC2's 2023 Cybersecurity Workforce Study reveals a staggering growth in the global cybersecurity workforce, now at 5.5 million, an 8.7% increase from 2022. Despite this, a record-breaking gap of 4 million cybersecurity professionals looms, highlighting a critical shortage in the industry, according to an ISC2 report.   What's Next: To bridge this gap, organizations are investing in staff training, DEI initiatives, and adapting hiring practices. However, the study underscores a persistent skills gap and new challenges like AI and ...Read More

By Nate Dillard   The Big Picture: Marking 30 years of dedicated service, the Dayton Weekly News (DWN) stands as a beacon in Dayton's African-American community. Since its inception by Don Black, the publication has been an unwavering source of culturally resonant news, celebrating Black experiences and challenging mainstream narratives.   Elevate Dayton Partnership: A significant chapter in DWN's history is its content syndication and sharing partnership with Elevate Dayton, established in 2020. This collaboration has amplified the reach and impact of stories central to the...Read More

By Nate Dillard   Catch-up Quickly: The U.S. is grappling with the challenges of adapting to an AI-driven economy. A critical part of the STEM workforce, essential for innovation, comprises 45% foreign-born employees with doctoral degrees, underscoring the importance of immigration in the talent landscape. The nation urgently needs to focus on effectively implementing the CHIPS and Science Act, enhancing domestic manufacturing, reforming STEM education, promoting lifelong learning, and developing reasonable immigration policies while managing geopolitical tensions, according t...Read More

By Nate Dillard     The Big Picture: A $15 million STEM education facility is set to be constructed on a Dayton-area college campus, signaling a significant investment in the future of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education in the region, according to the Dayton Business Journal.   What's Next: Global Impact STEM Academy (GISA) will break ground this fall for the new 30,000-square-foot facility at Clark State’s Springfield campus. This expansion is part of a collaboration with West Center Port Authority and Columbus-based Marker, Inc.  ...Read More

By Nate Dillard     Catch Up Quickly: Despite growing interest and higher salaries in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, significant disparities persist in STEM education and careers, especially for women and people of color, according to The Education Trust.   Zoom In: Women of color in STEM face a 'double-bind,' experiencing lower STEM degree attainment rates and higher barriers to entry, including unequal pay and workplace discrimination. This disparity is particularly evident in higher-paying STEM jobs like engineering and computi...Read More

By Nate Dillard   The big picture: Elevate Dayton's upcoming "One Digital Work" campaign is set to shed light on Dayton's workforce development history, connecting past achievements with present challenges. This initiative is crucial for understanding the evolving employment landscape in the region.   Zoom in: The campaign, organized into four phases, will explore the overarching themes of workforce development, delve into specific issues, share human interest stories, and propose actionable solutions. It's a deep dive into how workers, employers, and community leaders in Dayton ...Read More