Will increased demand on cyber security expertise prompt new strategies on sourcing talent?
Cyber security is an in demand and huge growth area of employment across Australia. It was just one month ago when the Federal Government announced an historic $1.35bn plan to invest in various cyber security initiatives and strategies.
This includes funding for 500 new jobs within the Australian Signals Directorate. Appropriate, considering the World Economic Forum, in their annual Risk Report, cited “information infrastructure breakdown” as a top global risk, expected to persist until at least 2030.
To make matters more complicated, the current COVID-19 climate has shaken the way that businesses operate. Many Australian businesses already had online capabilities, but since early March - when significant restrictions on trading in person across Australia were put in place - many businesses have had to implement new and improved ways to do business. This increase in the use of the internet and commerce technology to do business has increased the need for data, information, and cyber security. This has created both opportunity and risk.
There is a skills shortage in the cyber security space with this increase in demand. According to the Australian Cyber Security Growth Network, Australia is currently short of 2,300 workers in cyber security, with an expected demand of at least 17,600 additional professionals in the sector by 2026. In addition, COVID-19 will also limit the talent pool available to fill vacant positions, as the current travel bans will restrict any international professionals that otherwise may apply for these roles in ‘normal’ times. Companies are going to have to start thinking outside the box by looking inside the region.
The traineeship model is an effective and impactful method with which businesses can meet this skills gap, whilst also allowing them to regenerate their workforce and build their own talent from the ground up. Traditionally, the IT sector has looked to recruit from the recent graduate pool from universities. Historically this has proven to be reliable, but given the growth this area is seeing today, this method of recruitment does limit the scope of available talent. Alternatively, an employer that recruits for a trainee role from the talent pool of recent school leavers instead, opens up the number of potential candidates by at least double, providing access to top talent well before they have gone to university, or found other career pathways. The cyber security traineeship has a nominal duration of 24 months, but being a competency-based traineeship, many do complete in 12-18 months. By this point, the trainee has a qualification (Certificate IV in Cyber Security) under their belt and 12-18 months of relevant, full-time industry experience. With experiences and skills shaped to meet the needs of your business. What an asset.
Youth unemployment has been steadily on the rise across Australia, hitting 16.4% - the highest it has been for more than 20 years. The COVID-19 crisis has only accelerated this. The traineeship model gives opportunities to many young people that otherwise would not have access to these in high-growth industries such as cyber security. Businesses can reduce the youth unemployment rate, whilst securing their future workforce for the next generation to come. The cost-effective traineeship model lends itself perfectly to cyber security, helping to meet the growing needs of an industry that is only going to continue to expand. Trainees are an essential part of the workforce, and the perfect way for companies to build capability for the future.
Written by Tim Owens
