Cyber skills shortage approaches crisis: new research

Melbourne, 13 September 2022

Today CyberCX, Australia and New Zealand’s leading cyber security services organisation, is releasing new ground-breaking research which quantifies the size and severity of the cyber security skills shortage plaguing the Australian economy.

• Over the next four years, the shortfall of qualified cyber security professionals is forecast to hit up to 30,000 unfilled positions across Australia.
• Established training pathways through universities and TAFEs are unlikely, on their own, to deliver the required qualified graduates to the sector.
• Academy-style programs sponsored by cyber and technology companies show great promise in enabling additional pathways into the industry. 
• Immigration must play a key role is closing the skills gap, alongside increased domestic investment in cyber skills training. 

Cyber skills shortages are biting harder than ever, while at the same time the cyber threat landscape continues to deteriorate, exacerbating cyber risk for businesses, government and across the Australian economy. 

 CyberCX CEO John Paitaridis said, "This industry-leading research, its findings, and its recommendations, are timely and important. As Australian organisations increasingly embrace digital transformation, we need to ensure we have the workforce capability to meet our nation’s cyber security needs, now and into the future."

“Government, industry and academia must work in partnership to develop and expand pathways for a more diverse group of Australians to move into this exciting industry where there are an increasing number of smart, secure jobs being created and going unfilled.” 

In response to the chronic skills crunch, CyberCX recently launched the CyberCX Academy, the largest private sector training academy for cyber security professionals in Australia. 

 This model has been endorsed as part of the solution to Australia’s cyber skills crisis by Per Capita’s independent report. 

CyberCX's Director of the CyberCX Academy, Rosemary Driscoll said, "Australia needs to innovate and expand our approach to cyber skills development. While there is no question that our world-class universities and TAFEs are critical to addressing the cyber skills shortage, industry can take the lead on initiatives like the CyberCX Academy to bring job-ready entrants to the market."

CyberCX looks forward to working with government and industry to address our shared challenges in improving Australia’s cyber security preparedness and safeguarding the nation’s prosperity. 

ENDS