Soft skills in demand for cyber security jobs in the wake of staff shortages

More than 100,000 jobs in cyber security are up for grabs, but the workers they need are not who you think.

Professional hackers spend most of the working day communicating with stakeholders – far removed from their stereotypical image as seedy characters immersed in a murky underworld.

Desperate for more workers, the cyber industry is keen to improve its reputation and is calling on people with good interpersonal and communication skills – particularly those seeking a career change – to train as a hacker or other cyber security professional.

Institute of Data executive director Andrew Campbell says the opportunities available to those with cyber security skills can “literally be life changing’’.

He says the reality of cyber security work is dramatically different to that portrayed in spy movies, with employees enjoying a variety of roles, from risk and compliance officers to “Red Team’’ hackers.

“It’s often seen as a strange world where you need a hoodie and a laptop and you’re in a dark room and no-one knows what you are doing,’’ Campbell says.

Ez Yiap retrained in cyber security after Covid-19 ended his career in the travel industry.

“But the reality is that 90 per cent of your time is spent talking to stakeholders in a corporate environment, explaining the risks and talking through (how to prevent) those risks.

“It’s really important that people are coming into these roles with a holistic skillset.

“You can’t just be technical, you need to have some pretty strong interpersonal skills as well.’’

In coming years, the global cyber security sector is predicted to reach a shortage of between three to six million workers.

Locally, the industry is forecast to replace the mining sector as the next Australian jobs boom.

However, experts are also keen to highlight the demand for digital workers more generally, amid reports that 156,000 more IT professionals will be needed in Australia by 2025.

Peter Lilley, whose company Instaclustr recently partnered with the University of Canberra to launch an online “open source’’ software training program, says there is a significant digital literacy skills gap that must be addressed.

“At Instaclustr, we recognise just how important developing these skills will be, not only to Australia’s future success and position as a global IT leader, but also to providing young Aussies with the job-ready skills that are so highly sought after,’’ he says.

Ez Yiap decided to retrain in cyber security after Covid-19 ended his career in the travel industry.

Partway through his studies, he secured a role with Triskele Labs, one of Australia’s fastest growing cyber security companies.

“Six months ago, all I saw was the crashlanding (of the) travel industry,” Yiap says.

“Now, I see more possibilities than ever before.

“Cyber security has a skills shortage and needs diversity in professionals who can bring open mindedness, unique thinking and experience, as well as much needed soft skills to bring cyber awareness out of the basement and into the boardroom.’’

Originally published as Soft skills in demand for cyber security jobs in the wake of staff shortages