(Washington Insider Magazine) -The focus in cyberspace is on serious threats from malevolent activities – a real threat. Inflation, a less evident threat to cyber, erodes any cyber organization’s budget and staff compensation. If not addressed, inflation might lead to unexpected resignation rates, jeopardize existing cyber operations as well as the US Defense Department’s move to cloud-based services. In the private sector, the rivalry for cloud security skills is already fierce.
Inflation estimates for 2022 are at their highest in decades, affecting the cost of recruiting and retaining a cyber workforce. Even if the peak inflation is only temporary as a result of COVID-19 and supply chain and financial market disruptions, the pressure on increased remuneration is a reality today.
Salary increases for white-collar professionals are expected to be in the range of 10% in 2022, according to the Wall Street Journal, with government employees receiving less than a third of the private-sector gains. In the cyber workforce, these signals of widening wage inequalities are expected to be even more severe and exacerbated.
A widening wage gap has a direct influence on recruiting since skilled applicants leave due to the private industry’s compensation advantage. According to previous data, the pay disparity will prompt individuals to pursue early retirement from the Department of Defense, explore a second civilian career, or leave government employment to work in the private industry as a civilian.
The disadvantage of an all-volunteer army is that, just as members of the military volunteer to serve, people have the option of seeking other employment rather than re-enlistment at the conclusion of their term. When the incentives are right, civilian workers can leave whenever they want.
As a result, if we have multiple years of strong inflation, it should go without saying that there is a possibility of an increased incentive imbalance favoring the private sector between the public and private sectors.
Many leaders in major organizations, such as the Department of Defense and its supporting defense infrastructure, are already talking about the fact that talent competition is about more than just salary and establishing a broader, upward trajectory. Inflation heightens the need to rethink how we recruit and retain cyber expertise.