US Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint to develop cybersecurity workforce

The 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint supports the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to expand Registered Apprenticeships to meet industry’s need for talent and to connect underserved communities to good jobs. Improving the nation’s cybersecurity apparatus is critical to the nation’s economic and national security, and today’s announcement will ensure enough qualified applicants are prepared for these careers.

“The 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint will increase awareness of current successful cybersecurity-related Registered Apprenticeship programs while recruiting employers and industry associations to expand and promote Registered Apprenticeships as a means to provide workers with high-quality, earn-as-you-learn training for good-paying cybersecurity jobs,” said Walsh. “These newly trained workers will help protect our critical infrastructure, advance our digital way of life, strengthen our economy and improve access to cybersecurity career paths for underrepresented communities, especially women, people of color, veterans and people with disabilities.”

“Right now, we have hundreds of thousands of critical cybersecurity jobs open, and Registered Apprenticeships are key to training new workers and connecting them to these opportunities,” added Raimondo. “The Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint will help build employer-led partnerships that will meet the industry’s need for talent and allow Americans to access quality, high-paying jobs. By using the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity, employers will ensure that all apprentices benefit from a standardized approach to cybersecurity education and training.”

The partnership between the departments of Labor, Commerce, other federal agencies and the White House Office of the National Cyber Director seeks to recruit employers, industry associations, labor unions, educational providers, community-based organizations and others to establish Registered Apprenticeship programs or to join existing programs to ensure the nation’s economic sectors have greater numbers of qualified cybersecurity workers. The sprint will continue until National Apprenticeship Week, Nov. 14-20, 2022.

There are currently 714 registered apprenticeship programs and 42,260 apprentices in cybersecurity-related occupations. Since Jan. 20, 2021, 199 programs have been created – a 28% increase during the Biden-Harris administration. The 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint will build upon this progress and focus on creating new pathways for workers in cybersecurity or a related field through partnerships with K-12, higher education, workforce partners and training programs. Introducing more employers to the potential of cybersecurity Registered Apprenticeships is essential to fill the nearly 700,000 open cybersecurity jobs, which span all industries.

Registered Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience with a mentor, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential. Registered Apprenticeships are an effective recruitment, retention and training strategy to build a skilled and diverse workforce.