The Cybersecurity Workforce Gap Analysis report by (ISC)2 highlights a shortage of 317,050 cybersecurity professionals in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region due to the increasing demand for skilled professionals surpassing the workforce pool. 

This trend is expected to continue, fueled by new technologies, digitalisation, and policies requiring more skilled cybersecurity professionals. Lack of management and oversight in the EU organisations could also lead to a higher risk of cyberattacks, making Europe an international laggard in cybersecurity. 

To address this issue, the EU has implemented initiatives such as the Cyber Skills Academy, the European Skills Pact and a database to search for cybersecurity programmes offered by Higher Education Institute (CyberHEAD). However, another (ISC)2 report notes that these initiatives lack clarity in their obligations and effectiveness. The shortage of skilled cyber professionals is a global problem, reflecting limitations in education and training systems. 

Germany, for instance, could face a shortage of almost 106,000 qualified workers in digitisation, including cybersecurity experts. While the country has launched initiatives to attract workers from abroad, experts suggest a multi-dimensional approach to addressing the issue by providing educational and training prospects and opening the public sector to new employment models.