The success of advanced technologies starts with a vibrant cyber workforce

We are living in a world that’s adopting emerging technologies – such as AI, smart cities and the Internet of Things (IoT) – at an accelerated rate: robots are working with humans on assembly lines, cities are hiring CIOs and autonomous vehicles are testing on a road near you. The future of work is upon us, and Americans are at a crossroads wondering how they will fit into this major economic shift–will it even include them?

While we will see some of the jobs we have known for the past 50 years or so lost, emerging tech also presents an enormous opportunity. If we take the right measures, we will reap the benefits.

{mosads}Already, there are nearly 300,000 cybersecurity job openings today. This need for employees with cybersecurity skills will only continue to grow exponentially. We have an opportunity to get ahead and prepare Americans for a career in the cybersecurity industry, protecting and securing our country from the cyber threats that will continue to increase.

Our workforce must be prepared to protect future innovation or we will lose out on an opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and lead the next wave of economic change.

Across industries, companies are indicating that they have a talent shortage but at the same time they are often hitting the default button of only looking for traditional workers with technical four-year degrees. The higher education system is working to produce more candidates, but we need to also focus on jobs that do not require four-year college degrees – information security analyst, network administrator and others.

Companies must do their part by retraining and equipping Americans from all backgrounds with the skills necessary to pursue a career in cybersecurity. We shouldn’t limit our talent pool. Instead, let’s train workers from every background, whether they have a degree or not. In fact, the more diverse the workforce the better the U.S. will be at figuring out how to fight cybercrimes. That’s why CompTIA and many others are gearing up professionals with IT security certifications. We must create more programs like these to help Americans assume a new career path, otherwise we won’t have the workforce necessary to support and defend our cities, states and country.

To this end, governments must see this workforce challenge for what it is, an economic national security issue. If we don’t have a skilled workforce, we run the risk of losing our economic advantage and won’t fulfill our promise to provide opportunities for all citizens. Establishing cybersecurity workforce specific legislation that encourages public-private partnerships, the build-out of cyber defense and adoption of cyber-apprenticeship programs will ensure we don’t miss out on the next wave of technology.

The U.S. is experiencing significant breaches and resulting economic impact. The growth of Smart Cities, IoT and AI opens business and government up to even more vulnerabilities. Yet, there are good tools out there already – the NIST Framework on Cybersecurity, the NTIA Stakeholders report on IoT, the FTC guidance on IoT. Still, while not a panacea, a robust cybersecurity workforce is needed that uses and internalizes these important best practices and principles.

Cybersecurity must become the fabric of our economic structure. From private to public entities, cyber resilience should become a strategy adopted by everyone and embedded within our society. Today, we face an ever-evolving economic future. Yet, one thing rings true: cyber will be the biggest challenge we face in the next few decades.

Through economic shifts– from manufacturing to services to tech – America has often been able to adjust and thrive. If we invest in cybersecurity education and collaboration, the U.S. can continue its successful heritage and be the global leader in the advanced technologies that will usher in new opportunities like we have never seen before.

Liz Hyman is executive vice president for CompTIA, the world’s leading technology association, with approximately 2,000 member companies, 3,000 academic and training partners, over 100,000 registered users and more than two million IT certifications issued.