The Cybersecurity Skills Gap: How Unemployment Can Help Bridge It
Technology today is advancing at an unprecedented pace, with new cybersecurity threats emerging on a daily basis. While the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the US alone is projected to reach roughly 3.5 million by 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this issue further with many organizations facing budget constraints and cutbacks. However, there is a silver lining to this situation. Unemployment can serve as a chance for workers to reskill and upskill into these vacant cybersecurity positions, helping bridge the skills gap and protect against cyber threats.
The Current State of the Cybersecurity Skills Gap
Recent reports have indicated that the cybersecurity industry is facing a severe shortage of trained personnel. The unemployment rate is rising, but cybersecurity remains a unique industry where demand for skilled professionals is exceeding the supply and continues to rise rapidly. According to a recent study by the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, the global cybersecurity workforce currently stands at 2.8 million professionals, whereas the industry would need an additional 4 million workers to keep up with forthcoming threats. While this problem may seem daunting, the solution may lie in the current unemployment rate.
Bridging the Cybersecurity Skills Gap Through Unemployment
Unemployment could be a turning point for millions of workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With job losses widely reported across multiple industries, the opportunity to reskill and upskill into cybersecurity roles presents itself as a viable option for many job-seekers. The rapid digital transformation taking place, including the rise of remote work and digital collaboration tools among other changes, points to a growing demand for specialized cybersecurity skills.
Reskilling and Upskilling Opportunities in Cybersecurity
The need for cybersecurity professionals goes beyond tech companies. All companies in all industries need cybersecurity professionals to mitigate risks and safeguard their data and systems. Hence employees from various fields like finance, healthcare, human resources, and legal can upskill and reskill into cybersecurity. For instance, a software tester or developer can pivot towards cybersecurity testing, or a compliance officer can specialize in cybersecurity compliance regulations.
Case Studies and Best Practices
Various organizations are already using the unemployment situation as an opportunity to address the cybersecurity skills gap. The online platform Cybrary provides free training courses to anyone interested in reskilling and upskilling into the cybersecurity domain. The National Cyber Security Centre in the United Kingdom (NCSC) has launched the Virtual Cyber School initiative aimed at students aged between 13 and 18. It has already enrolled over 27,000 participants.
Conclusion
To conclude, the cybersecurity skills gap presents a major challenge to the industry, which needs to be addressed. Unemployment, on the other hand, can be the key to bridging the skill gap and filling vacant cybersecurity positions. The pandemic has given us the opportunity to reshape the workforce, and cybersecurity presents an attractive and stable alternative for those seeking new work or career progression. Employers can invest in training and upskilling programs that lead to professional internships, apprenticeships, and new job possibilities, that benefit both the employer and the employee. Bridging the cybersecurity skills gap through unemployment is a critical step towards reducing cybercrime and keeping the economy safe and protected.
