In today’s world, one of the biggest challenges faced by millions of young university graduates is the realization that their degrees in obscure fields may not translate into high-paying jobs. For many young people, becoming a university-educated fast-food employee or other low-skilled, low-income worker has become a harsh reality. Consequently, we now see a generation of anxious young individuals facing uncertain prospects in the job market. This is a significant and increasingly severe issue.
A considerable part of the blame should be attributed to our colleges and universities introducing new academic fields that have little to no practical application or value. The various interdisciplinary theories in the humanities are a prime example. Outside academia, these research areas have minimal practical value (I seriously doubt their value within academia), with the negative aspect being the burden of heavy student loan debts on graduates.
This is not just a problem for Generation Z. The impact of a generation experiencing unemployment or underemployment has profound effects on society: reduced tax revenues, decreased consumption, increased renters, fewer homeowners, and greater strain on social support systems are just a few aspects of the long-term impact.
But what choices do they have?
For Generation Z, one of the most popular alternative career choices is to bypass high tuition university degrees and instead learn a trade. Jobs like plumbing, welding, electrical work, and similar occupations may not be glamorous, but they certainly beat living with parents in their 20s or even 30s.
But the reality remains. About 16% of millennials live with their parents or family due to inability to afford housing. Nearly one-third of Generation Z still reside at home. In fact, the number of multigenerational households in the United States has increased by over a million in the past decade.
The good news is that in a particular industry, there are 500,000 high-paying job vacancies that can alter the fate of the underutilized and educationally delayed Generation Z in relatively short time – that industry is cybersecurity. Recent estimates indicate a minimum of 500,000 job vacancies for cybersecurity professionals.
If the cybersecurity industry sounds complex and sophisticated, that’s because it is. In essence, cybersecurity involves protecting the networks, devices, systems, and data of various organizations, preventing data theft or ransom, unauthorized access, modification, and other forms of network attacks. Essentially, cybersecurity safeguards various digital assets, from financial and healthcare industries to high-tech, military, and all other types of industries or organizations.
Furthermore, there is a significant demand for analysts, and this demand continues to grow. The cybersecurity gap (which widens annually) makes cybersecurity a highly reliable, profitable industry with almost no possibility of layoffs in the United States and other regions globally. Currently, the global shortage of cybersecurity analysts is estimated to be around 4 million and is rapidly expanding.
With the proliferation and deepening of digitization, nearly every aspect of life faces opportunities. Indeed, the quantity and cost of data breaches and losses suffered by organizations and individuals due to cyberattacks are sharply rising annually, driving the need for IT security analysts.
However, you do not need to be a science or math genius to enter this industry. In fact, in many cases, you may not even need a college degree – you can obtain a specialized education in cybersecurity that prepares you for entry-level cybersecurity jobs like security auditors, system administrators, and cybersecurity analysts. Many programs typically only require a high school diploma or GED certificate for eligibility. There are also cybersecurity training camps that are much cheaper than attending college, have shorter durations, and can help you secure a secure and relatively high-paying full-time job in the field of cybersecurity.
The demand is so high that some IT security companies or internal departments recruit ambitious interns, train them to use their specific systems, and then hire them as full-time employees.
As expected, cybersecurity encompasses several positions or subfields. Most individuals start as entry-level analysts in security operations centers, responsible for monitoring and investigating suspicious activities. Other more complex positions include network security, cloud security, application security, and security architecture. Overall, there are many job opportunities and avenues for advancement after entering the field, with the additional benefit that many of these positions can be remote.
Last but certainly not least is the salary level in the cybersecurity industry. For example, in North Carolina (certainly not the most expensive state to live in), the average annual salary for an entry-level analyst is around $115,500, with salary ranges from $100,000 to $130,000. Of course, salaries vary by location and company. However, this indicates that entering the high-paying profession of cybersecurity without needing to spend a significant amount on college education is entirely achievable.
In conclusion, cybersecurity offers a viable and lucrative career path for those looking to enter a high-demand field that provides stability, growth opportunities, and substantial financial rewards.