The cyber security field is experiencing rapid growth and talent shortages are emerging across countries. The pace at which new positions are opening up in cyber security is outstripping the rate at which qualified candidates are entering the field. This growing gap highlights the urgency for strategic initiatives to develop and attract talent, ensuring that nations are well-equipped to handle the evolving challenges of cyber security.
Cyber security skills
As the complexity and frequency of cyber threats has risen, so too has the need for adequately trained cyber security professionals. Despite clear demand and the cyber security workforce being larger than ever, there is still a critical shortage of skilled workers. It is therefore essential for countries to invest in developing a skilled cyber security workforce.
Key messages
Addressing the talent gap in cyber security requires a multi-stakeholder approach that facilitates the participation of industry professionals in cyber security education. The collaboration between the education system and industry not only enriches the learning experience but also ensures that the curriculum remains relevant and responsive to the ever-evolving demands of the cyber security landscape. This partnership is key to preparing a workforce that is well-equipped to meet the challenges of modern cyber threats and to bridge the talent gap in this critical field.
Efforts to improve cyber security education's accessibility and diversity are key, with initiatives focusing on underrepresented groups, including women. Students, particularly from disadvantaged or minority backgrounds, encounter gender stereotypes and barriers such as digital literacy and financial constraints, leading to their underrepresentation in the cyber security sector. It's key to address these challenges to create a cyber security workforce that mirrors the diversity of the population it protects. This approach not only enriches the field with varied perspectives and ideas but is also critical to addressing the sector's skill shortage.
Context
Demand for cyber security professionals is growing
The demand for cyber security professionals has seen a significant surge in the Five Eyes countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States), Latin American, and European countries, driven largely by the rapid digital transformation that has increased the connectivity and digital reliance of businesses and governments. This transformation, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic’s push towards remote work, has heightened vulnerabilities to cyber threats, leading to an acceleration in the demand for cyber security experts. This rising demand has outstripped the growth in other occupations in many countries. Specifically, Chile, New Zealand and Poland have experienced notable increases in the demand for cyber security professionals.
A range of cyber security roles are required
The increasing demand for cyber security professionals encompasses a range of roles within the profession. The OECD has analysed job titles from advertisements to classify cyber security job postings into four main roles: Analyst, Architects and engineers, Auditors and Advisors, and Managers.
Across all countries, cyber security architects and analysts are the jobs most in demand. However, there are differences at the national level. For example, in the United Kingdom, France and Germany, cyber security architects/engineers account for a significant share of demand, whereas in Canada and Colombia, analysts are more sought after.
