Job prospects Network Security Engineer in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "network security engineer" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be very good for Cybersecurity specialists (NOC 21220) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Various industries, but the leading share employed in computer systems design services
• Finance and insurance, mainly banks
• Public administration, largely federal government departments

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• The extensive use of advanced digital tools across all industries
• Prevalence, growing concern, and rising costs of cybersecurity breaches
• Investments to strengthen the cybersecurity systems in business operations will also create job opportunities for these Specialists

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• In addition to other formal education, employers tend to seek candidates with specialized experience, notably in cybersecurity and auditing, and using programming languages such as Python
• Professional certifications, particularly Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) are also common in job postings

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• In general, Bridging Programs are available to assist internationally trained professionals in various fields enter the labour market more quickly in the province.

Here are some key facts about Cybersecurity specialists in Ontario:

• Approximately 8,700 people work in this occupation.
• Cybersecurity specialists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 28%
  • Monetary Authorities - central bank and securities, commodity contracts and other intermediation and related activities (NAICS 521, 522, 523): 17%
  • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 13%
  • Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 7%
  • Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 6%
• 81% of cybersecurity specialists work all year, while 19% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 8% of cybersecurity specialists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 80% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 20% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 10% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 25% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 38% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 24% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "network security engineer" in Ontario or across Canada.

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