Cyber Security skills in the UK labour market 2024
This annual research, first published by the government in 2019, provides a comprehensive overview of the UK's cyber skills gap, identifying the areas where shortages exist and suggesting potential solutions. The data for the research was collected through several methods, including:
- Surveys of cyber security businesses and other organizations
- Qualitative research with recruitment agents, cyber firms, and organizations across multiple sectors
- Secondary analysis of cyber security job postings via the Lightcast labour market database
The study is divided into three key themes:
- Skills gap
- Diversity
- Recruitment and staff retention
Skills Gap
The report highlights a significant skills gap in cyber security, estimating that 637,000 businesses in the UK lack the basic skills required to effectively implement cyber security measures. Additionally, many employees tasked with handling cyber security lack the confidence to perform skills outlined in the Cyber Essentials framework. For more advanced skills, such as penetration testing, 390,000 businesses are experiencing similar gaps.
The study also explored how the growing deployment of AI will affect the cyber security skills landscape. Four major changes were identified:
- Increased automation of cyber tasks, which could result in job losses
- The need for skills to understand and act on AI tools
- Roles evolving from 'cyber' to 'AI cyber'
- The rise of specialisms like ‘cyber security machine learning’
Diversity
Diversity in the cyber security sector remained consistent with previous years. Although there has been an upward trend in the number of women and individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds entering the sector, this progress was not reflected in 2023’s figures. The report noted that a lack of diversity continues to be a persistent challenge in the workforce.
Recruitment and Staff Retention
The report found that demand for cyber security professionals has decreased, aligning with trends seen across the broader digital landscape. However, the number of employed professionals in the sector has increased by 5% over the past year, largely due to new individuals entering the workforce.
Moreover, student enrolment in cyber security courses rose by 14%, with the number of students graduating from these courses increasing by 34%.
Recommendations
The report put forward several recommendations aimed at reducing the skills gap and shaping attitudes and behaviours at the board level.
It emphasised the significant role played by the UK Cyber Security Council's Cyber Career Framework in improving sector outcomes and enhancing workforce diversity. While supply has grown, demand has cooled due to challenges affecting both the cyber and broader tech landscapes. The key recommendations included:
Developing the entry-level talent pipeline to address market cooling. Retaining this talent should be prioritised by encouraging employers to hire entry-level cyber staff.
- Increasing the focus on AI-related skills in cyber security, which will become essential for both employees and organisations.
- Paying careful attention to the placement and retention of graduates. Higher education institutions have responded to the rising demand for cyber security expertise by increasing the number of graduates.
- Broadening pathways to industry employment. To address the evolving threat landscape, it may be beneficial to support cyber start-ups from diverse domains or those tackling niche challenges.
A link to the full report can be found here.
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Meet the team
Jill Broom
Head of Cyber Resilience, techUK
Jill leads the techUK Cyber Security programme, having originally joined techUK in October 2020 as a Programme Manager for the Cyber and Central Government programmes. She is responsible for managing techUK's work across the cyber security ecosystem, bringing industry together with key stakeholders across the public and private sectors. Jill also provides the industry secretariat for the Cyber Growth Partnership, the industry and government conduit for supporting the growth of the sector. A key focus of her work is to strengthen the public–private partnership across cyber to support further development of UK cyber security and resilience policy.
Before joining techUK, Jill worked as a Senior Caseworker for an MP, advocating for local communities, businesses and individuals, so she is particularly committed to techUK’s vision of harnessing the power of technology to improve people’s lives. Jill is also an experienced editorial professional and has delivered copyediting and writing services for public-body and SME clients as well as publishers.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- www.techuk.org/
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-broom-19aa824
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Annie Collings
Programme Manager, Cyber Security and Central Government, techUK
Annie joined techUK as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023. In this role, she supports the Cyber Security SME Forum, engaging regularly with key government and industry stakeholders to advance the growth and development of SMEs in the cyber sector.
Before joining techUK, Annie was an Account Manager at a specialist healthcare agency, where she provided public affairs support to a wide range of medical technology clients. She also gained experience as an intern in both an MP’s constituency office and with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed. Annie holds a degree in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Twitter:
- anniecollings24
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-collings-270150158/
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Raya Tsolova
Programme Manager, techUK
Raya Tsolova is a Programme Manager at techUK.
Prior to joining techUK, Raya worked in Business Development for an expert network firm within the institutional investment space. Before this Raya spent a year in industry working for a tech start-up in London as part of their Growth team which included the formation and development of a 'Let's Talk Tech' podcast and involvement in London Tech Week.
Raya has a degree in Politics and International Relations (Bsc Hons) from the University of Bath where she focused primarily on national security and counter-terrorism policies, centreing research on female-led terrorism and specific approaches to justice there.
Outside of work, Raya's interests include baking, spin classes and true-crime Netflix shows!
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07712630603
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Tracy Modha
Team Assistant - Markets, techUK
Tracy supports several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Cyber Security, Defence, Health and Social Care, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.
