The Army is facing difficulties in hiring cyber security experts due to intense competition from the business sector. The recruitment chief of Capita, which handles recruitment for the Armed Forces, admitted that attracting candidates is challenging given the abundance of job opportunities in the market. The Minister of Defence has emphasized the urgent need to modernize the force and boost digital skills. However, private sector companies are proving to be faster at recruiting, offering positions within a few weeks. The demand for cyber security experts is rapidly growing, both in the public and private sectors, as cyber attacks on Britain increase.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army struggling to hire cyber security experts | Difficulty attracting candidates, competition from business | Increased demand for cyber security experts | Competition in the job market |
| Capita on track to meet only 80% of Army recruitment target | Difficulty filling technical roles, STEM skills in high demand | Increased focus on addressing skills shortages | Growing demand for technical skills |
| Cyber security experts have more job options | Private sector offers faster recruitment process | Increased competition for cyber security experts | Faster recruitment by private sector |
| National skills shortage in cyber security | Employers struggling to fill roles, increased demand | Continued shortage of cyber security experts | Lack of qualified candidates |
| Launch of National Cyber Force | Response to growing cyber threats | Continued focus on cyber operations | Need to contest and compete in cyberspace |
| Difficulty recruiting chefs and tanker drivers | Competition from supermarkets and energy companies | Continued competition for non-technical roles | Competition in the job market |
| Capita’s contract to run recruitment for Armed Forces | Previously missed recruitment targets | Evaluation and potential changes in recruitment process | Improvement of recruitment program |