The White House has initiated a cybersecurity hiring sprint to address the significant gap of 500,000 unfilled cybersecurity, technology, and artificial intelligence positions across the United States. This effort aims to connect Americans with meaningful and well-paying jobs in these critical fields.
Key Takeaways
The White House aims to fill 500,000 cybersecurity, technology, and AI job openings.
The initiative targets candidates without traditional qualifications.
A series of events and job fairs will be held through mid-October.
The program is part of a broader national cybersecurity strategy.
Service for America Program
The White House Office of the National Cyber Director has launched the "Service for America" program in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management. This initiative is designed to recruit and hire individuals for cybersecurity, technology, and AI roles, focusing on candidates who may not have traditional qualifications such as computer science or engineering degrees.
National Cyber Director Harry Coker Jr. emphasized that many Americans are unaware that a career in cybersecurity is accessible to them. He noted that people from various backgrounds could find well-paying jobs in this field, and the White House is actively promoting efforts to connect a new generation of candidates to these positions.
Addressing Industry Challenges
The cybersecurity industry has faced significant challenges, including burnout and job stress due to private sector job cuts, alert fatigue among security operations staff, and regulatory and legal pressures on CISOs and other risk executives. The White House's national cyber workforce and education strategy, unveiled in July 2023, aims to close the skills gap and build the nation's resilience against malicious cyberattacks.
Upcoming Events and Resources
The initiative includes a series of events through mid-October, such as the National Cybersecurity Virtual Career Fair on September 27. The "Service for America" website provides links to open cyber, tech, and AI jobs at federal agencies, as well as information about federal internships, apprenticeship programs, and other job-related resources.
Skills-Based Hiring
The Office of the National Cyber Director, in collaboration with the Office of Personnel Management, is transitioning most federal IT jobs to a skills-based hiring approach by next summer. This method focuses on evaluating candidates based on their skills and knowledge rather than their educational background. Officials believe that skills-based hiring is crucial to filling the estimated 469,000 open cyber positions nationwide.
The White House's cybersecurity hiring sprint represents a significant effort to address the growing demand for cybersecurity, technology, and AI professionals. By focusing on skills-based hiring and reaching out to candidates from diverse backgrounds, the initiative aims to fill critical roles that are essential for national security and economic prosperity.
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Sources
White House launches cybersecurity hiring sprint to help fill 500,000 job openings, Cybersecurity Dive.
WH launches cyber hiring sprint to fill open tech roles, Federal News Network.