DID YOU KNOW?

Besides UA Little Rock, partner institutions in the consortium include UA Pine Bluff, UA-Pulaski Technical College, UA Cossatot, UA Hope-Texarkana, UACC Batesville and UACC Morrilton. The Forge Institute, the Arkansas Center for Data Sciences, and SmartResume are also collaborating on the initiative, which plans to roll out additional training modules starting next year.

CyberLearn comes at a time when the demand for people with this training is at an all-time high. According to The 2021 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study, there are 2.7 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs worldwide and 467,000 open cyber jobs in the U.S. In Arkansas alone, there are nearly 3,100 cybersecurity vacancies, per UA Little Rock, part of a total of 20,000 IT-related unfilled jobs in The Natural State.

Meanwhile the problem of cybercrime continues to worsen. A recent survey of IT decisionmakers across eight countries by Center for Strategic and International Studies found 82% of

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Demand for skilled jobs is expected to grow faster than many white-collar jobs over the next several years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts plumbing jobs will grow 18% in 2028 compared to 2018; electrical jobs will grow 10% and HVACR jobs will be up 13% over that time period. All other industries combined are only expected to grow an average of 7% over the same decade.

Source: explorethetrade.org

Darion Laws

Apprentice Lineman, Entergy

Hometown: Fayetteville

Age: 22

Years with Entergy: 1

BLUEPRINT: What made you want to work in utilities?

DARION LAWS: I’ve always seen lineworkers as being first responders to the community during a storm. I really enjoy helping others, and what we do really helps people in their time of need.

BP: How did you come into this job?

DL: I have a military background and Entergy Arkansas looks to hire veterans. I had a chance encounter with an Entergy employee at a car wash who talked about the brotherhood among lineworkers and he encouraged me to apply. Coming from the Marine Corps, that meant a lot, and it was true. There’s a brotherhood here, so this was a natural fit for me.

BP: Were you always good working with your hands growing up?

DL: I’ve always had a passion for learning about how different things work, and I consider myself a jack of all trades. I’ve completed a lot of on-the-job training, including building poles, working the bucket and hanging power lines and how to splice underground wires.

In Hot Springs, our crew does both underground and overhead lines, and we troubleshoot. My favorite things are hands-on stuff, figuring things out and climbing.

BP: This can be dangerous work; how have you learned to deal with that aspect of your job?

DL: It’s important in my job to learn leadership skills and how to teach. Helping newer apprentices — even teaching them what I’ve learned so far about paying attention to detail and safety — is critical. Anybody can make mistakes, so everyone is empowered to stop work if things don’t look right.

BP: You recently graduated as best overall performer in your Lineworkers Boot Camp class. How did that make you feel?

DL: It was humbling. These guys are like my family, and I learn something new every day. Working for Entergy Arkansas has come to be a true passion.

BP: If someone were reading this and weighing the possibility of following in your footsteps, what would you want that person to know?

DL: If you want to learn how to be a good human being — hard-working with a good work ethic, leadership, going above and beyond — and have a reliable job with great financial stability, definitely consider Entergy Arkansas.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 employers report a shortage of cybersecurity skills, and 71% believe this talent gap causes direct and measurable damage to their organizations.

All of that adds up to robust career opportunities for people with the right skills. UA Little Rock reports entry-level salaries in cybersecurity can range from $40,000 to $130,000 nationally, depending on experience. The university also notes the average salary for cybersecurity jobs in Arkansas is $91,119, and the median starting salary for such jobs in Little Rock is $66,017.

Finzer said as with all skilled careers, the technical side of the job is just one component of success.

“Our partners stress the need for workers with strong communication skills, critical thinking and problem-solving ability and curiosity to continue learning,” Finzer said. “They value individuals who come from academic disciplines and life experiences outside of computer science, individuals who bring the creative and critical thinking which lend themselves well to continuous learning in a rapidly evolving field.

“For this reason, the Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate of Proficiency was designed for learners of any background as a supportive entry into cybersecurity.”

For more information on the CyberLearn program, please visit cyberlearnarkansas.org.