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The White House has a plan to tackle the ongoing cybersecurity skills gap, estimated to be 500,000 unfilled positions in the US.
In a blog post shared at the end of July by the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) – which advises the President of the US on cybersecurity policy and strategy – Director Harry Coker, Jr. emphasized the nation’s “critical need for cyber talent”.
“Today, there are approximately 500,000 – half a million! – open cyber jobs in the United States and that number is only going to grow as more services and products go online with the expansion of technologies like artificial intelligence,” he wrote.
Companies have struggled to find deep talent pools amid rapidly growing demand for cyber talent, particularly in specialized areas like artifical intelligence (AI), resulting in highly competitive and unusual recruitment practices.
To tackle this gap, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced the launch of ‘Service For America,’ a scheme designed to accelerate the recruitment, hiring, and engagement of individuals into jobs in cyber, technology, and AI.
What is Service for America?
The scheme, launched by the ONCD in partnership with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), is a part of the Whitehouse’s plan to execute its National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy (NCWES) introduced in July 2023.
The NCWES is designed to transform education and accessibility around cyber careers, increasing the amount of talent with digital skills available to federal and non-federal employers across the US.
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Service for America, according to Coker, is aimed at “preparing our country for a digitally-enabled future by connecting Americans to good-paying, meaningful jobs in cyber, technology, and artificial intelligence.”
This includes improving awareness about the possibility of careers in cyber. Coker stated that many Americans (incorrectly) believe that they do not possess the right education or skills, and as such do not embark on a career in the industry. Accordingly, the ONCD is rolling out measures to ensure individuals from diverse educational backgrounds are given the opportunity to pursue a career in cyber, helping to fill talent pipelines.
“There is a perception that you need a computer science degree and a deeply technical background to get a job in cyber,” he explained. “The truth is, cyber jobs are available to anyone who wants to pursue them. Cyber professionals are part of a dynamic and diverse modern workforce and individuals from all backgrounds and disciplines have a place.”
The Whitehouse turns to skills-based to fill cyber job gaps
Service for America, as a part of the NCWES, is promoting several practices designed to break down accessibility barriers and encourage more Americans to pick up the skills they need to take on cyber roles.
“We are working to remove unnecessary degree requirements, moving toward a skills-based approach that emphasizes candidates’ ability to perform a job, rather than where they acquired their skills,” Croke wrote, adding that the Federal Government is shifting to a skills-based methodology for its technology positions.
The program will also involve expanding work-based learning including apprenticeships which allow Americans to ‘earn while they learn.’
A 2024 report conducted by Gallup and Lumina Foundation with responses from over 14,000 US adults aged 18 to 59, who have never completed or enrolled in a higher education program, found that 85% cited cost as an important reason.
Moreover, 77% said their need to work was an important reason they weren’t enrolled in a higher education program.
“We are expanding work-based learning, such as through registered apprenticeships, which allow Americans to continue earning income while they learn new skills,” Croke said. “Earlier this summer, the Biden-Harris Administration announced an additional $244 million investment for registered apprenticeships in growing industries, including cybersecurity.”
Service for America will also include an emphasis on local programs created by employers, academia, non-profits, and local Governments to understand what communities require from their training and education.
From the beginning of January to the end of July, the ONCD visited 14 community colleges, universities, and cyber centers to learn more about the support needed to help individuals enter the cyber industry. Over the coming months and years, it will continue this work to connect job seekers with employers through a range of measures including career fairs and job postings.
“The demand for skilled cyber talent is a challenge, but also an incredible opportunity,” Croke concluded.
“These jobs offer Americans from all backgrounds – including veterans and military spouses, single parents, career changers, and rural workers – good-paying and meaningful careers…Choosing a cyber career means choosing service to our country. We are grateful for all the cyber workers who keep us safe every day. Service for America will help our country prepare for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges (and opportunities!) in cyberspace.”
