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Understanding the UK cyber security skills labour market
This report presents the findings from a study conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Jayesh Navin Shah Ipsos Public Affairs, UK
Daniel Pedley Public Affairs
Helen Motha Ipsos Public Affairs, UK
Darragh McHenry Ipsos Public Affairs, UK
As part of the National Cyber Security Strategy, DCMS is working to ensure all organisations have access to the cyber security skills they need. This research supports that aim and informs the Government's Cyber Security Skills Strategy.
This research sets out:
What the cyber security jobs market and landscape currently looks like
How the market understands and defines the term "cyber security professional"
What cyber security skills organisations of all sizes and sectors are acquiring, how they are doing so and how hard or not it is to acquire the right skills, retraining products and/or services
Key lessons and recommendations on what Government and industry can do to tackle the gap, particularly around retraining and upskilling.
This was a mixed method research project using both qualitative and quantitative research approaches including:
A literature review.
12 industry expert interviews.
A quantitative survey of 1,030 businesses, 127 public sector organisations and 470 charities.
32 further in-depth interviews, including 27 with a mix of organisations that took part in the survey and five with external cyber security providers which were not part of the survey.
Further information on cyber security skills is set out in the Government's Cyber Security Skills Strategy.
Professor Mark Button and Dr Victoria Wang from ICJS led the literature review for the research in March and April 2018
12 qualitative interviews were carried out among industry experts between March and April 2018.
The quantitative survey was conducted via telephone with 470 UK charities; 1,030 UK businesses (excluding agriculture, forestry and fishing businesses); 110 large businesses with 250+ staff. Fieldwork dates: 12 June to 6 August 2018. All final data are weighted.
32 qualitative-depth interviews were carried out in July and August 2018. Of these, the sample for 27 organisations came from those participating in the survey, who had agreed to be recontacted. We also recruited a further 5 interviews with external cyber security providers, who provide cyber security products or services
Download the full report Download the technical report
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