State officials hope a new website will spark interest in the high-growth cybersecurity field.
Cyberseek Indiana was launched to address the rise in cybersecurity threats and attacks. State officials want the online resource to close the cybersecurity skills gap in Indiana and create new job opportunities.
“The need for a skilled cybersecurity professional workforce is at an all-time high,” said Dr. Marcus Rogers, executive director of the Purdue Cyber Apprenticeship Program. “Increasingly, U.S. companies of all sizes are being targeted for attacks, with the resultant cost to the economy in the billions of dollars (so) programs like Cyberseek and P-CAP are vital components in preparing the workforce to fill the need for these cybersecurity professionals today and tomorrow.”
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development is partnering with the Purdue Cyber Apprenticeship Program, Burning Glass Technologies and CompTIA.
The state said the website has information about supply and demand in the cybersecurity job market, heat maps showing locations of jobs and apprenticeships, and contacts for training providers. The data is geared toward employers, educators, and students, with the goal of filling current open positions and growing the cybersecurity workforce in Indiana.
According to the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, there are currently 20,549 cybersecurity job openings in Indiana.
“The cybersecurity talent shortage is a global challenge requiring local solutions,” said Will Markow, managing director of Burning Glass Technologies. “No two communities have the exact same cyber workforce needs, but you can’t address those needs if you don’t know what they are.”
Jeff Tucker, chief information officer for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, said partnering with Burning Glass, CompTIA and Purdue will help the state improve its understanding of Indiana’s cybersecurity workforce and talent pipeline.
“This tool further demonstrates Indiana’s commitment to combatting cybercrime” Tucker said. “We can see the trends, we can see the shifts in skills needed to combat cyberattacks, and we can offer potential pathways for individuals looking to skill up in the most efficient way possible.”
