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Every day, thousands of people across the UK are tasked with the critical mission of protecting businesses and national infrastructure against cyber threats. To better understand the people behind our defence, we examined Office for National Statistics (ONS) data to uncover key insights into the size and makeup of this rapidly growing workforce.
‘A wave in cyber’, a follow up to a report we published in 2024, charts the industry's growth and examines the diversity and regional footprint of those working in it.
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Cyber is now the fifth fastest-growing occupation in the UK
Perhaps the most significant takeaway from our new report is that cyber security is no longer a niche field—it’s now the fifth fastest-growing career path in the country. In just four years, the industry has overtaken long-standing professions such as bricklaying, architecture, and farming in terms of headcount (all occupations that were a similar size to cyber in 2021).
There are now close to 84,000 people working in cyber security in the UK, a number that has nearly tripled since 2021 – the date cyber security roles first started being tracked by the ONS in its Annual Population Survey.
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The narrowing defender-to-business deficit
Due to a surge in headcount, the ratio of cyber security professionals to UK businesses has improved significantly—moving from one expert for every 196 companies in 2021 to one for every 68 in June 2025. While this indicates a positive trend in hiring, there remains a significant way to go before all businesses have specialist cyber security expertise in-house.
This continuing defender-to-business deficit also underscores why managed security service providers are so important in helping organisations access the support they need to strengthen their cyber defence.
The human front line in the age of AI
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping almost every sector, and cyber security is no exception. While it is too early to assess the impact of AI in the latest ONS figures, many commentators - including Dr Yulia Cherdantseva, Reader, School of Computer Science & Informatics Education at Cardiff University - are optimistic. Leading security teams, including Socura, are using AI to augment rather than replace human roles; it is also expected that AI will create new specialisms within the sector.
The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is also expected to drive demand for cyber security talent by mandating stricter standards for organisations —particularly those that provide essential services and form part of critical national supply chains.
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Key areas for improvement
In 2021, 23% of the cyber security workforce was female. Today, despite a 163% increase in the number of women entering the field, that proportion has slipped to 21%—a stark reminder that the industry must do more to increase female representation. Stark geographical divides in the location of workers also continue to present a challenge for businesses accessing talent. Currently, 29% of the UK’s cyber workforce is in London and the South-East.
Dr Clare Johnson, Founder of Women in Cyber Unlimited, believes that initiatives such as the CyberFirst Girls Competition and the increasing number of cyber networks are essential for addressing this imbalance and providing a platform for new talent.
Read the report for full insights
‘A wave in cyber’ charts the emergence of cyber security as a mainstream profession within the UK, demonstrating the rising importance of cyber in protecting organisations against threats.
Read the full report for a deeper look into current employment shifts, alongside expert commentary from Socura CEO Andrew Kays and other industry experts on these evolving trends.