Addressing the widening cybersecurity workforce gap

 

POSTED ON Apr 09, 2021

 

Recently, TechLatino, the Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association, held a discussion on cyber skills and how a skills gap threatens national security. According to experts, there are estimates of a 2 million person skills gap for cyber professionals.

“America has all the national resources necessary to overcome this challenge,” said Michael A. Echols, a cybersecurity executive. “We only need to mine the talent,” added the critical infrastructure protection strategist, who works  with corporate leaders and government officials to make the nation more resilient. Take a listen:

A recent report, Innovation Through Inclusion: The Multicultural Cybersecurity Workforce, also took an in-depth look at diversity in the cybersecurity workplace.

In partnership with the International Consortium of Minority Cybersecurity Professionals (ICMCP) and the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, the study measured minority representation in the U.S. cybersecurity profession. Findings are based on survey responses from 9,500 U.S. cybersecurity professionals.

In the U.S. cybersecurity industry, 9% of workers self-identified as African American or Black, 4% as Hispanic, 8% as Asian, 1% as American Indian or Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 4% self-identifying as “Other.” Click here for more information.

While minority representation within the cybersecurity field (26%) is slightly higher than the overall U.S. minority workforce (21%), the study reveals that racial and ethnic minorities tend to hold non-managerial positions, and pay discrepancies, especially for minority women, is a challenge.

The study said the cybersecurity profession must make cybersecurity a rewarding and welcoming career for everyone. Understanding the challenges our profession faces related to diversity is a critical first step to accomplishing that goal and ultimately addressing the widening cybersecurity workforce gap.