PA University Addresses Cybersecurity Workforce Shortage With New Apprenticeship Program

Drexel University launched a new registered apprenticeship program to train cybersecurity support technicians and address the ongoing cybersecurity workforce shortage, a problem that has impacted healthcare and other sectors in recent years.  

"The rise of nontraditional earn-and-learn apprenticeships such as cybersecurity creates access and opportunity for all, no matter where one may be on their academic and career continuum," Kena Sears Brown, director of Continuing Professional Education & Workforce Initiatives at Drexel’s Goodwin College of Professional Studies.

The apprenticeship training will follow the National Guideline Standards for cybersecurity support technicians approved by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). During the duration of the program, students will be provided on-the-job experience and classroom instruction that provide skill sets to deal with cyber threat detection and security.

Cybersecurity support technicians play an essential role in information technology (IT) systems as they are tasked with monitoring, directing, containing, and remediating information technology threats for the protection of computer networks and company information. 

"These frontline cyber professionals maintain and secure networks, apps and websites, defending against phishing and other threats to keep everyone and everything working securely," said Amy Kardel, senior vice president, workforce relations, CompTIA. "This experience is great preparation for more advanced roles in cybersecurity."

This apprenticeship opportunity comes as the United States is currently experiencing a soaring demand for cybersecurity workers with 770,000 job openings for cybersecurity professionals skills during a 12-month period ending in September 2022

Over the last few years, the need for cybersecurity professionals has been multiplying. Researchers from CyberSeek found that cybersecurity talent demand has grown 2.4 times faster than the overall rate across the US economy.

However, the demand is outpacing the existing talent amid a cybersecurity workforce shortage.

The CyberSeek data also showed that total cybersecurity job postings for Q3 2022 were 30 percent higher than in 2021 and 68 percent higher than in 2020.  According to the supply-demand ratio, approximately 65 cybersecurity workers are in the labor market for every 100 cybersecurity job postings.

According to 2021  analysis from (ISC)², the global workforce still must grow by 65 percent to defend critical assets effectively.

As current cybersecurity professionals continue to work in the middle of the workforce shortage, negative consequences may emerge such as employee burnout.

The workforce shortage could cause remaining employees to be stretched too thin, allowing critical vulnerabilities and suspicious network activity to fly under the radar. This is especially troubling for healthcare, a sector that continues to face advanced cyber threats daily.

In recent years, government agencies have allocated funding in order to support existing cybersecurity workforce challenges.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) awarded $2 million to two organizations to develop cyber workforce training programs in underserved communities in rural and urban areas.

The three-year pilot program, led by NPower and CyberWarrior, focused on developing a comprehensive retention strategy and delivering accessible entry-level cybersecurity training while providing opportunities to underserved communities.