Growing demand for cybersecurity specialists in the Netherlands

In many countries, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is decreasing. But in the Netherlands, organizations are actually looking for them more intensively. The number of vacancies for cybersecurity roles on LinkedIn has increased by more than two percent here in the country over the past year. As a result, the Netherlands now ranks fourth worldwide; only Mexico, Spain and India grew in demand faster last year. This is what research by LinkedIn indicates.

The 2.1 percent increase in demand in the Netherlands is almost equal to the 2.4 percent growth in the number of people employed in the cybersecurity segment. This development contrasts with a global trend, as shown in the latest LinkedIn Cyber Security Report.

As for the requirements for cybersecurity positions, LinkedIn data shows that cybersecurity in the Netherlands is much more specialized than in other countries. In the U.S., 5.6 percent of job openings do not require a degree, while in the Netherlands it is only 0.2 percent. This makes Dutch companies have the strictest training requirements of any country surveyed.

“It makes sense that cybersecurity companies want to hire knowledgeable people. At the same time, it is a market that can also pre-eminently rely on having the right skills. That is where there is room for cybersecurity organizations,” said Marjolein Kleijn, LinkedIn director and labor market expert.

“To meet the growing demand for employees as well as to better advance female talent, we shouldn't be sticking entirely to owning degrees. It is also important to look at whether someone has the right skills, or train employees with those skills. By focusing on a skills-based recruitment strategy, companies can find new talent faster and continue to invest in Internet security.”

Gender gap

Cybersecurity also remains male-dominated in the Netherlands. The share of female professionals in the Netherlands is 15.9 percent. Only Germany performs worse at 14.6 percent. Reducing the gender gap in this sector requires a multifaceted approach, Kleijn said.

“First, it is important to improve the accessibility and inclusiveness of cybersecurity and technical education for women. In addition, making female role models visible can increase the appeal of the sector and inspire more women to pursue careers in cybersecurity. Finally, taking a skills-based recruitment approach, rather than looking solely at experience or degrees, could help create a broader pool of candidates. In doing so, you create more room for female cyber experts.”

About the survey

The study is based on LinkedIn data obtained from the anonymized and aggregated profile information of its 1 billion members worldwide. The report includes data from Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Spain, the UK and the US.