Supply isn't keeping up with the demand to fill cybersecurity jobs in Ireland

THERE IS A growing cybersecurity skills gap in Ireland with not enough people to fill an increasing number of roles, according to new data.

Research released by careers website Indeed shows there has been an 18% increase in demand for cybersecurity roles in 2018, when compared to 2017. 

The figures indicate a growing skills gap in the cybersecurity area as supply has only increased by 7% over the same period. 

The increase in demand for cybersecurity skills comes at a time of more frequent cyber attacks targeting businesses – with the global value of cybercrime damage recently estimated to hit €4.85 trillion annually by 2021.

Indeed researchers gauged the gap between supply and demand by tracking the number of cybersecurity roles advertised on the site and the number of clicks on these roles from candidates. 

The mismatch between demand and supply stands at 55% this year, compared to 61% in 2018.  

Amazon and KPMG are the companies most focused on recruiting cybersecurity talent. Both had jobs with cybersecurity in their description for 6.7% and 5.5% of their open roles respectively last year.

Cybersecurity solutions provider Forcepoint ranked third at 2.8%, followed by Salesforce and Fidelity Investments at 2.3%. 

The most in-demand cybersecurity role for employers was an “IT security specialist”, with this role seeing the highest number of postings in the last year. 

Ireland is trying to establish itself as a hub of cybersecurity excellence with the establishment of Cyber Ireland last year – a cluster of industry, academic and government expertise brought together at Cork Institute of Technology.

One of the goals of Cyber Ireland, which is supported by the IDA, is the roll out a major initiative to train an additional 5,000 people in Ireland in cybersecurity skills.

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