The Industry

Across San Diego County, cybersecurity jobs have grown at nearly quadruple the county’s average rate since 2018. The industry continues to require more talent than the region is currently able to provide, with only 66% of advertised jobs being filled. Cybersecurity occupations have high salary growth potential and no four-year degree requirement, making them some of the most promising, self-sustaining career pathways for low-income and underserved populations.

The Program

CyberHire is a partnership with the San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE) and the Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and bridges the gap between education and employment by aligning talent supply chains to dynamic business needs in the region.  

Participants, primarily low-income and underserved job seekers, receive job-readiness support, subsidized cybersecurity certification and credential costs required by the industry, and access to paid internship opportunities and placement services through our network of employers. 71% of participants do not have a bachelor’s degree and 81% are CalFresh recipients. Through our partnership with the National Foundation for Autism Research (NFAR), we serve neurodiverse individuals who receive specialized training to break into the field.

Outcomes

In two years, we trained over 200 participants and helped participants earn 122 industry-recognized certifications. Additionally, we helped place 53 and counting participants IT support or cybersecurity internships or jobs.

Next Steps

Pilot program funding has now concluded. To continue this momentum, we need $200,000 a year to keep the CyberHire talent pipeline open to employers and underserved job seekers. Join us in building a thriving inclusive workforce that meets the critical security needs of our region and nation.  


Read about Raven’s experience with CyberHire:

Raven Thumbtail

This young professional was able to make a career change thanks to Cyberhire

Raven Antiquiera has always had a passion for technology but never considered turning
his hobby into a career. When he learned about our CyberHire program, Raven made the
decision, which he calls life-changing, to apply and obtain a desktop technician certificate.