Readout: Biden Administration Continues National Cyber Workforce & Education Strategy Implementation, Convenes Experts To Chart A Path Forward For the Collection of More Accurate Cyber Workforce Data
Today, the Biden-Harris Administration convened a diverse group of experts from across the public and private sectors at the White House for a National Cyber Workforce Data Workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss improving the collection of accurate data with respect to the nation’s cyber workforce.
The Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) hosted the gathering, hearing from experts affiliated with think tanks, academia, associations, private sector companies, and federal government entities. Each contributed to the discussion about how data will help the Administration align resources in support of cyber workforce priorities to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity and economy. In her comments, Deputy National Cyber Director Camille Stewart Gloster said, “In order to better understand the scope of the challenge building the cyber workforce, this nation requires us to have better visibility and agreed upon ways to measure our progress. Building consensus across the community is vital so we’re really pleased for today’s meaningful contribution from so many experts. Data-informed decision-making will help us better understand the success of individual cyber education and employment programs as well as identify areas needing additional investment. Effectively leveraging resources is key to growing a thriving economy that works for all Americans.”
Encouraging an innovative and growing economy that facilitates opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds and regions to pursue good-paying middle-class cyber-related jobs remains a driving force for the Administration, as reflected in the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy (NCWES) released in July 2023.
Assistant National Cyber Director Seeyew Mo emphasized that “the Federal government has a key role to play in this effort to enable better national cyber workforce data interoperability and analysis, but we cannot do this alone. The private sector, and the ecosystems they underpin, are also a critical part of this conversation. That is why we have both public and private sector perspectives being shared here today.”
This convening specifically addresses line of effort 3.1.2 of the NCWES: “Improve cyber workforce data interoperability and analysis.” Further, it builds on efforts in the President’s Management Agenda, which encourages a data-driven approach to transforming workforce planning.
The experts taking part in this conversation are associated with private sector organizations including the Brookings Institution, Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), Credential Engine, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, George Washington University, International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2), Lightcast, LinkedIn, National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), National Governor’s Association (NGA), National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), and Western Governors University. Governmental organizations with workshop participants included the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau, College of Information and Cyberspace, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Labor, Institute of Education Sciences, National Science Foundation, NICE, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Personnel Management, and Office of Science and Technology Policy.
To learn more about the NCWES and ONCD’s ongoing effort to capture and refine cyber workforce data, visit WhiteHouse.Gov/CyberWorkforce.
