A GLOBAL SHORTFALL OF CYBER WORKFORCE: EVALUATING THE U.S. STRATEGY APPROACH AND UKRAINE'S EMERGING CHALLENGES

Abstract

The article addresses the global shortage of cyber workforce, a challenge that directly impacts national security and international competition. The role of cybersecurity in large-scale military conflicts involving conventional weapons is examined, highlighting that while cyberspace has a limited direct impact on warfare, cybersecurity remains crucial for defense against cyberespionage and cyber sabotage. The study emphasizes that cybersecurity comprises three key components—technology, processes, and personnel—with the latter being the most critical. Effective technology use and process implementation depend on skilled professionals, their technological proficiency, and their awareness of cybersecurity’s significance in organizational operations. The article provides a detailed analysis of U.S. efforts to mitigate the cyber workforce shortage, including the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, the first-year implementation report, and various legislative and local initiatives aimed at broadening workforce participation. Additionally, the strategies of specific agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Defense, for recruiting cybersecurity specialists are assessed.

The study also explores Ukraine’s strategic approach to addressing the cybersecurity workforce deficit, noting the lack of attention to this issue in the country’s Cybersecurity Strategy and other national strategic documents. The current state of Ukraine’s cyber workforce is characterized by factors such as armed conflict, migration, and mobilization, the latter having helped address some staffing challenges in the security and defense sectors. A key barrier to effective policymaking in this area is identified as the absence of comprehensive statistical data. The article underscores the need to expand the cybersecurity talent pool by engaging traditionally underrepresented groups, including veterans, their spouses, women, and other social demographics.