Cybersecurity job openings in the U.K. are growing about 10-12% each year. Around 17,000 live cybersecurity vacancies currently exist at any given time. This rapid growth rate is projected to continue over the next several years. This trend further exacerbates the well-publicized cybersecurity workforce and skills gap. Hiring teams report struggling to find the right individuals for these open positions. A limited pool of suitably skilled candidates makes this recruitment process very difficult. Therefore companies are increasingly relying upon headhunting methods and also employee referrals. Cybersecurity has consistently ranked among the top five in-demand professional services skills.
The need for cybersecurity specialists has intensified across all U.K. industry sectors.
This is because cybersecurity threats are becoming more sophisticated and substantial in scale. This rapid evolution means professionals often struggle to keep pace with necessary skill advancements. Currently the most in-demand cybersecurity roles include skilled cloud security engineers. Security operations center (SOC) analysts are also highly sought after by many organizations. Penetration testers and ethical hackers remain critical for proactive defense against new threats. Companies also need cyber risk and compliance specialists to navigate complex regulations. Analysts skilled in AI and threat intelligence are increasingly vital for modern security. Cybersecurity roles within operational technology are reportedly some of the most difficult to fill.
Robert Walters expects the U.K. retail industry to expand its cybersecurity recruitment efforts. This follows recent high-profile cyberattacks on major U.K. retailers earlier this week. Well-known brands like Marks & Spencer Co-op and Harrods were unfortunately affected. The retail sector currently has about 1700 cybersecurity vacancies making up 10% of total. Finance and banking lead with 3400 open positions which is 20% of the total. The public sector and defense also have a high demand with 3060 current vacancies. Many retailers already allocate substantial resources toward enhancing their existing security systems.
However these recent attacks will likely stretch their cybersecurity budgets even further this year.
Firms currently need to offer very competitive salaries to attract skilled cybersecurity professionals. Cybersecurity roles must be highly appealing either by their nature or an attractive pay package. However ongoing global economic volatility is constraining many companies’ available hiring budgets. High living costs are also impacting companies’ overall financial flexibility for new hires. Another significant barrier organizations should address is the length of their hiring processes. Prolonged decision-making periods often lead to good hiring processes ultimately falling completely through. Businesses should hire the right professionals from the very beginning to build strong teams. Consistent company investment in their ongoing upskilling and training is also quite essential. This helps protect companies against the constantly evolving landscape of modern cyber threats.
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