Tech Issues Explained: The Cybersecurity Skills Gap

Hello from the team that brings you Microsoft On the Issues! If you’ve just tuned in, welcome to our  newsletter, Tech Issues Explained. We’re here to help you understand the biggest and most important issues at the intersection of technology and public policy – and how they impact your life.

In our first newsletter, we discussed affordable housing. This time, we’re looking at the skills gap.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that the jobs of the future will look very different from the jobs of today – and changing demands are going to mean a need for new skills. 

It’s a problem that is acute when it comes to cybersecurity. In the U.S., for example for almost every two cybersecurity jobs, a third job is sitting empty because of a shortage of skilled people.

What is the skills gap?

The skills gap is the mismatch between the skills employers are looking for and those available among people who are seeking jobs. Taking cybersecurity as an example - according to Cybersecurity Ventures, by 2025 there will be almost 3.5 million open cybersecurity jobs globally – a 350% increase over an eight-year period. In the U.S. alone, the country’s cybersecurity challenges have highlighted a serious workforce shortage.

In fact, more than one out of every 20 open jobs in America today is a job that requires cybersecurity skills. Simply put, there aren’t enough people with the cybersecurity skills needed to fill open jobs. As digital capability plays a larger part in more roles, digital skills need to be acquired. In a pandemic that has seen us working, learning, and living from home, the quest to self-improve professional skills has been added to that list, too. 

In 2022, we are dealing with new infrastructure and capabilities that make it necessary for new skills to help close the job gap. While some jobs need formal and meticulous training, there is an increasing number of opportunities to find jobs after filling an existing skills gap. 

How can new skills help close this gap?

News about new skills and technology often raises the specter of robots eventually taking our jobs. In reality, automation and technology have always created new jobs to replace the ones they have taken away. And empowering more people with the skills to get those new jobs will alleviate those fears. According to The New York Times, 30 million people could be earning 70% more than their current income if they focus on gaining the skills needed for jobs in this new era.

After announcing a national skilling campaign in the U.S. in October, Microsoft is now expanding its campaign to an additional 23 countries. It will include targeted investment in countries identified as having an elevated cyberthreat risk, as well as both a cybersecurity skills shortage and a lack of diversity in the field. These are Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The recent blog linked above highlights the lack of women in the cybersecurity field. In the countries listed above, an average of only 17% of cybersecurity jobs are held by women. This leaves talent on the table and further hampers our ability to close the skills gap.

Closing the cybersecurity skills gap relies on five elements being in place. First, we need to better understand the problem and share best practices. Second, we need to make accessible industry-aligned training to anyone interested in cybersecurity as a career. Third, educational institutions and teachers need to be better equipped to teach cybersecurity students. Fourth, we need to support diverse and underserved jobseekers in this area. And finally, we need to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all solution – Microsoft will work with local education institutions, nonprofits, governments and businesses to develop a cybersecurity skills program that fits the unique needs of each market.

Any effort in this area requires public-private partnership. Economists and employment experts have pushed for increased government funding to support skills training and job searches for American workers. Companies, including Microsoft, have committed to use skills-based hiring for many positions – and several of those skills can be acquired online. For example, LinkedIn’s research and analysis of data on employment has provided a detailed breakdown of 10 highly in-demand jobs that rely on strong digital skills, including IT support and financial analysis.  

Technology, through platforms such as LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn, can begin the process of offering these skills to a much broader and more inclusive group of jobseekers. 

What people are saying:

What can you do?

Explore: LinkedIn Economic Graph lets you look at the most available jobs and employers where you live. It’s the source of the data mentioned above about in-demand jobs, and it’s worth checking out. 

Play: Minecraft launched a program focused on making computing more accessible to younger learners. Check it out: Homepage | Minecraft: Education Edition

How do you see access to skills changing access to jobs? Is there something else you want to hear about from our team? Send us feedback. And check out more on the skills gap from the On the Issues team here.

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