A Growing Cybersecurity Skills Shortage in Europe
Europe is facing a serious shortage of cybersecurity professionals. Demand is growing much faster than the number of people entering the field, and the current gap is about 300,000 experts.
Yet one of the most straightforward ways to address this shortage continues to be overlooked: bringing more women into the field.
Women represent just 22% of the cybersecurity workforce in Europe. This is a structural problem rooted in how cybersecurity has historically been perceived, who it has been designed to attract, and barriers such as a lack of leadership opportunities, a lack of visible role models, and a lack of mentorship or sponsorship. This imbalance is not accidental—it reflects long-standing systemic barriers.
Why Diversity Strengthens Cybersecurity
Diverse teams bring different ways of thinking, different risk perceptions, and different blind spots. A sector with talents that are diverse in culture and backgrounds is more adaptive and resilient. This is not a theoretical argument. Research shows that diverse teams are more likely to outperform non-diverse teams.
The Challenge in Widening Countries
The challenge is more complex in widening countries, where the loss of skilled professionals to larger research and industry centres, known as brain drain, creates an additional layer of vulnerability. Lithuania, Greece, Slovenia, and Turkey all rank among the countries most affected by this trend in Europe.
When women in these countries lack the networks, mentorship, and cross-border opportunities needed to build careers locally, the sector loses talent even more.
From Awareness to Action
Closing the gap requires more than awareness. It requires action that helps women enter, remain and progress in cybersecurity careers. That means:
- Mentorship from people who have navigated the field,
- Access to technical training tailored to where individuals are,
- Opportunities to gain cross-sector experience that builds both skills and professional networks.
The Role of WEM Cyber
This is the logic behind WEM Cyber: we believe cybersecurity should be accessible to everyone so we can build a safer, more secure future.
Creating access, support, and opportunity is key to building a stronger cybersecurity ecosystem in Europe.
A forensic analysis of the cyber skills gap in Europe | Source Group International. (n.d.). Source Group International. https://www.sourcegroupinternational.com/news/analysis-cyber-skills-gap-europe/
For a safer digital society: breaking down gender barriers in cybersecurity. (2024, March 6). Orange Cyberdefense. https://www.orangecyberdefense.com/be/blog/for-a-safer-digital-society-breaking-down-gender-barriers-in-cybersecurity
Carucci, R. (2024, February 20). One more time: Why diversity leads to better team performance. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/roncarucci/2024/01/24/one-more-time-why-diversity-leads-to-better-team-performance/
Human flight and brain drain in Europe | TheGlobalEconomy.com. (n.d.). TheGlobalEconomy.com. https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/rankings/human_flight_brain_drain_index/Europe/
