Cyber talent demand in Canada continues to increase amidst an acute shortage of trained cybersecurity professionals. Employers are faced with the challenge of attracting, recruiting and retaining this talent to meet the growing needs of the cybersecurity sector.

To make the sector more accessible to Canadians from diverse backgrounds, the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst launched the Accelerated Cybersecurity Training Program (ACTP) in 2020. This program is specifically designed to give women, new Canadians, and workers seeking employment the skills they need to launch a career in the cybersecurity sector.

A dual client model, the program works with both Canadian cybersecurity employers to understand their needs and influence hiring practices, and with learners to expand the candidate pool to traditionally excluded groups. The program focuses on recruiting learners that are Black, Indigenous and/or people of colour (BIPOC), women and newcomers, and supports learners’ development and job search.

In 2022, we released a A Race for Talent: Insights from Canadian Cybersecurity Employers. In this report, we shared the key questions addressed in our research, the high-level findings that speak to these questions and recommendations for programs like the ACTP and for cybersecurity employers to effectively address the growing gap between demand and supply of cybersecurity talent in Canada. Learn more here.

Key Takeaways

In developing and delivering the ACTP, the Catalyst took a dual-client approach, working with both Canadian cybersecurity employers and learners in their program. With employers, they worked to understand their needs and influence hiring practices, and with learners, to expand the candidate pool to traditionally excluded groups including BIPOC, women and newcomers.

This dual-client model offers a wholistic approach to an issue: engaging both industry and potential candidates when scoping out the problem, creating a program to address it and fostering the conditions for the program’s ability to thrive.

The early indications of outcomes are promising; increase in graduates’ skills, confidence, employment and salaries, as well as hiring reform in the industry. This can be credited in no small part to the strong relationships the Catalyst has built with employers. Their role as liaison between diverse and talented candidates, and cybersecurity employers, helped increase the Catalyst’s influence and bring more diversity to the sector.  

Want the highlights? Check out the key takeaways here.

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