According to new research from RMIT University, women’s participation in the Cyber security business is now expanding faster than men’s.
The CCSRI, a Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation, has teamed up with the Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN) to study the issue.
The AWSN has been assisted in the study through sponsorship from the Australian Signals Directorate.
RMIT’s investigation of the 2021 Australian Census of Population and Housing data reveals that the Cyber security sector is one of the fastest-growing occupations in Australia, and women’s rising numbers are responsible for much of this.
Women are in the minority, making up 16% of Cyber Security
Dr Leonora Risse says compared to 2016, we’re seeing just over a three-fold increase in men’s employment and a nearly four-fold increase in women’s employment.
“The dynamic has changed with more women flooding into the sector faster than men.”
“The overall growth of this sector is phenomenal – an overall expansion of 230 per cent – which is easily one of the fastest growing occupations in Australia’s workforce.” says Dr Risse.
The creation of a new occupational classification in the ABS data collection that is dedicated to cybersecurity occupations is a big development in the sector.
“The creation of a new occupational category in our labour market statistics reflects the ongoing structural change of our economy as we evolve into a more digitally dependent and knowledge-based economy.”
“While some jobs have been replaced by technology and innovation, this is proof that new jobs are also coming into existence.”
“These new jobs usually require more complex skills, which means they add more productive value to our economy and can strengthen workers’ wage prospects.” Dr Risse Explained.
According to the Australian Census of 2021, there are over 9000 cyber security workers, including Cyber Security Analysts, Cyber Security Advice and Assessment Specialists, and Cyber Governance Risk and Compliance.
Because these professions are specifically related to cyber security, we can expect them to become increasingly prominent in future years.
By 2024, AustCyber predicts that Australia will need 7000 cyber security professionals. The workforce having already exceeded this forecast suggests that it has grown faster than expected.
According to RMIT Economist and RMIT CCSRI research team member Leonora Risse gender equality in the sector is an important ingredient for preparing the sector for future challenges.
Director of the RMIT Centre for Cyber Security Research & Innovation (CCSRI) Professor Matt Warren says previous figures on the percentage of women in the security industry were imprecise and unreliable
“Our current study is generating a more definitive measure of the sector’s size as well as the extent of gender diversity within the security workforce.” said Professor Warren.
RMIT’s research will provide industry partners with the knowledge required to correct gender imbalances in this sector and make it a more inclusive and diverse profession.
This will also enable the industry to better understand why some diversity initiatives fail, as well as the resistance to equality.
Jacqui Loustau, Executive Director of the AWSN, a not-for-profit association says having a baseline and a clearer picture of the actual number of women working in the security industry will allow us to measure the success of our initiatives to attract, support, and retain women in the industry.
”This study will allow us to assess the impact of our initiatives.”
“The research project’s insights will help to expand the sector’s talent pool and prepare it for future challenges and demands.”
”While existing research suggests general ways to expand the sector’s talent pool more generally, there is little focus on gender dimensions and the factors that explain women’s low representation in the sector.”
”The project will empower us to better understand the factors that can either deter or enable women to join and pursue a flourishing career in the security sector.” says Loustau
https://www.techbusinessnews.com.au/news/womens-employment-in-the-cyber-security-industry-is-now-growing-faster-in-comparison-to-men/
