In an effort to address the critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals, the White House Office of the National Cyber Director has launched the “Service for America” program. Announced on Wednesday, this initiative aims to fill approximately 500,000 open cybersecurity positions across the country. Developed in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the program is designed to connect Americans with jobs in cybersecurity, technology, and artificial intelligence, even for those without traditional qualifications like computer science degrees.
National Cyber Director Harry Coker Jr. emphasized the importance of broadening the talent pool, noting, “Many Americans do not realize that a cyber career is available to them.” The program aims to highlight how people from diverse backgrounds can find rewarding opportunities in this field. With the cybersecurity sector already facing challenges like burnout and regulatory pressures, this recruitment effort is part of a larger strategy to strengthen the nation’s resilience against cyberattacks. The program includes job fairs, internships, and apprenticeship opportunities to bridge the skills gap and train a new generation of cyber professionals.
Layoffs: Scale AI
Scale AI, a data-annotation startup, has quietly laid off a number of contract workers, adding to the ongoing turbulence in the tech industry. According to some former employees, around 1,300 contractors were let go on Monday, a figure echoed in online discussions. However, the company’s Director of Operations, Xiaote Zhu, disputed that number, stating that only 61 contractors were affected.
The layoffs were communicated via email from HireArt, a third-party HR software vendor, which informed workers that their employment was terminated immediately. Affected contractors, many of whom had been involved in data annotation tasks for Scale’s subsidiaries, have expressed frustration. The company claims the reduction in workforce is tied to a shift in business strategy and has emphasized that full-time employees remain unaffected.
Hiring: Leidos
Leidos has announced a major initiative to address the growing cybersecurity workforce shortage by adopting skills-based hiring practices, a move aimed at filling critical cybersecurity roles across the U.S. At a recent White House cyber workforce event, Leidos emphasized its focus on hiring based on skills rather than traditional qualifications, a strategy that promises to widen the talent pool. “Our pledge addresses critical challenges in cybersecurity and will help us enhance security, promote innovation and future growth,” said Lynsey Caldwell, Leidos’ cybersecurity workforce program director. The company has committed to hiring 15,000 veterans and military spouses by 2030, with 7,000 of these projected to be technical hires, many of whom will not need a college degree.
Cleared Employer at Work: CISA
Are you interested in a career in cyber? Check out open positions at CISA today: www.cisa.gov/careers.
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Opportunity to Watch
The latest employment data signals a cautious approach to tech hiring, according to a new analysis from CompTIA. While the overall tech industry employment remained relatively flat, there are signs of growth in specific sectors. Companies in tech services and custom software development added 3,400 new jobs in August, even as tech manufacturing shed 2,500 positions. Across the broader economy, tech occupations saw a decline of 28,000 jobs, with the unemployment rate for tech roles ticking up slightly to 3.4%. However, demand for skilled workers remains steady, as over 500,000 tech job openings were active last month, with software developers, data scientists, and tech support specialists leading the charge. Encouragingly, nearly half of tech job postings did not require a four-year degree, highlighting the growing trend of skills-based hiring.
