Research and analysis

Understanding the UK cyber security labour market

The Government is carrying out research to help understand and measure the UK cyber security labour market. This will help inform future policy and strategy.

• From: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and Matt Warman
• Published: 13 July 2018
• Last updated: 3 August 2020 — See all updates

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

Documents

Previous Cyber Security Labour Market Research from 2020

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cyber-security-skills-in-the-uk-labour-market-2020

Previous Cyber Security Labour Market Research from 2018

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cyber-security-skills-in-the-uk-labour-market

Details

The Government is undertaking a third survey of UK businesses, public sector organisations and charities to help understand the UK cyber security labour market. The research will examine how organisations approach employing and training cyber security professionals, and understand the issues they face during this process.

The research will continue to inform Government policy on the cyber security labour market. You can view the report from the previous phase of research here or access it via the link above. Research was also carried out in 2018 and you can view the 2018 research report here or access it via the link above.

Ipsos MORI has been commissioned to carry out the new survey fieldwork. This is taking place by telephone from August 2020 to October 2020.

During this period some organisations will be called by an Ipsos MORI interviewer from their Edinburgh office (using the phone number 0131 561 4532) inviting them to take part.

The Government and Ipsos MORI can give the following reassurances about the survey:

• Taking part is totally confidential and anonymous for all individuals and organisations.
• The survey is not technical and participants do not need any specific IT knowledge.
• Ipsos MORI would still like to speak to businesses, public sector organisations and charities even if they have not had any cyber security employment or training issues. This is to help ensure the findings are representative of all organisations.

Who is being invited to take part?

Businesses and public sector organisations across the UK have been selected at random from the Government’s Inter-Departmental Business Register. Charities have been selected from the Charity Commission database in England and Wales, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, and the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Cyber sector businesses have been selected from a list compiled from various commercial business databases.

Ipsos MORI is inviting the senior person within these organisations, with the most knowledge or responsibility when it comes to cyber security to take part. In some organisations this might be a specific individual or Head of Department, while in other organisations it might be the business owner or one of the charity trustees.

What does participation involve?

Participation will involve a telephone interview with an interviewer from Ipsos MORI. On average interviews last around 15 minutes, though the actual interview length may vary depending on the answers that you give. If you consent to take part in a follow-up interview, these will last around 45 minutes. The interview will take place at a time that is convenient for you.

Published 13 July 2018
Last updated 3 August 2020 + show all updates

1. 3 August 2020

   Updated to include details of the third phase of this research happening in 2020, plus updated links to previous research.

2. 1 August 2019

   The page has been updated to provide information to potential participants for the second phase of this research, which is taking place in 2019.

3. 13 July 2018

   First published.