Survey also reveals vast gender gap in the current workforce
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A sting of cyberattacks and data breaches over the past several years has stressed the growing need of cybersecurity in homes and offices. But a recent survey expects the sector’s global workforce shortage to reach 1.8 million by 2020 – representing a 20% rise since 2015.
Data also showed a vast gender gap – currently 90% of the workforce is male, with the majority having technical backgrounds. (ISC)² said this highlights the issue that recruitment channels and tactics need to change.
About a third of hiring managers are planning to increase their departments by 15% or more to stave off the shortage, according to the 2017 “Global Information Security Workforce Study” by the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, and non-profit (ISC)². Results come from a poll of over 19,000 information security professionals from 170 countries.
Results also found that more than half (66%) of respondents said they did not have enough employees to tackle current cybersecurity threats. A large majority (70%) of employers around the globe are looking to increase the size of their cybersecurity staff this year.
Some 87% of cybersecurity workers globally did not start in cybersecurity – yet 94% of hiring managers indicate that existing experience in the field is an important consideration.
“There is a definite concern that jobs remain unfilled, ultimately resulting in a lack of resources to face current industry threats,” said (ISC)² CEO David Shearer. “We're going to have to figure out how we communicate with each other, and the industry will have to learn what to do to attract, enable and retain the cybersecurity talent needed to combat today's risks."
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Data also showed a vast gender gap – currently 90% of the workforce is male, with the majority having technical backgrounds. (ISC)² said this highlights the issue that recruitment channels and tactics need to change.
About a third of hiring managers are planning to increase their departments by 15% or more to stave off the shortage, according to the 2017 “Global Information Security Workforce Study” by the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, and non-profit (ISC)². Results come from a poll of over 19,000 information security professionals from 170 countries.
Results also found that more than half (66%) of respondents said they did not have enough employees to tackle current cybersecurity threats. A large majority (70%) of employers around the globe are looking to increase the size of their cybersecurity staff this year.
Some 87% of cybersecurity workers globally did not start in cybersecurity – yet 94% of hiring managers indicate that existing experience in the field is an important consideration.
“There is a definite concern that jobs remain unfilled, ultimately resulting in a lack of resources to face current industry threats,” said (ISC)² CEO David Shearer. “We're going to have to figure out how we communicate with each other, and the industry will have to learn what to do to attract, enable and retain the cybersecurity talent needed to combat today's risks."
Related stories:
These are the 5 highest-paying industries in Singapore this year
"Every company should phish itself”
