Best Blogs of October

Our Best Blogs of October post includes stories on the cybersecurity skills gap, the massive number of US job openings and building a culture of innovation. That’s a lot of great stuff to read while waiting for Trick-or-Treaters!

Here are 3 of the best blog for this month

The desperate need for cybersecurity skills

Companies around the world are struggling with a debilitating cybersecurity workforce “gap” of 2.9 million workers, putting these companies at a much higher risk of attack, according to the most recent estimates from global certifications body (ISC)².

The organization recently unveiled a new methodology that indicated why this figure is so much greater than the expected 1.8 million industry shortfall predicted for 2022. While earlier models subtracted supply from demand, the new method includes factors such as the percentage of companies with open jobs and estimated growth of businesses of various sizes. It also surveyed IT staff in small companies that may not be security professionals but devote at least one-quarter of their day to cybersecurity.

Almost two-thirds of companies have said they have a cyber security skills gap, and more than half said the situation puts them at “moderate” or “extreme” risk of cyberattack. Although virtually half of companies said they expect to increase the number of cybersecurity employees in the next 12 months, it’s uncertain where these staff members are going to come from.

However, recent research has pointed to one positive new trend: a broader representation of women in cybersecurity, who now comprise about one- quarter of the workforce, greater than double earlier estimates.

Read the whole story here.

More jobs than workers in the US 

According to the most recent government data, the number of job openings in the US rose to a record 7.14 million in August, highlighting robust growth in the economy and the best labor market in decades for job seekers. The number of job openings easily surpassed the number of people formally categorized as unemployed: 6.23 million in August.

Job openings rose in construction, financial services, government, healthcare and professional services, according to data from the Labor Department. Job openings dropped somewhat in manufacturing, retail and the restaurant industry, although they were at relatively high levels.

Read the whole story here.

Attract talent with a culture of innovation

Competitive pay and robust benefits packages are critical to attracting technology professionals. However, those things are worth only so much to in-demand tech talent, particularly when it comes to staying long-term with an organization. When a company includes a culture that supports innovation, it becomes much more likely to attract and retain the technology staff it needs to reach organizational goals.

Businesses like Google and Apple that are widely considered ideal employers are known for cultivating cultures of innovation and many other companies are following suit, creating a culture of innovation to attract top talent. Industrial behemoth General Electric, for instance, invests in emerging talent through its leadership programs and provides development opportunities for staff members at all phases of their career.

Read the whole story here.