Across the country, there are about 350,000 open cyber security jobs that need people to fill them. It’s a growing field and there aren’t enough people trained to do the job, according to Jon Haas, director of the Cyber Intelligence and Security Program at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Cyber security experts who have been in the field for decades are retiring, Haas said, and, at the same time, the demand for them is growing.

“Every company of every type in all of the different industries are requiring cyber security today,” Haas said. “Because, whether you’re Petsmart or Safeway or you’re a financial institution such as Charles Schwab, you need to be able to secure people’s data, your payments, and all of your financials in the back room.”

So, how can we fill those jobs?

Haas is part of the Arizona Statewide Cyber Workforce Consortium, which was put together by Chicanos Por La Causa and Cyber Security Canyon to create a pipeline of talent into the cyber security field here in Arizona.

The consortium has identified more than 100 companies in Arizona which are in need of cyber security workers today, Haas said. And, they’re putting in place internships and apprenticeships to connect and train workers with those companies.

In Maricopa County, there are almost 8,000 open cyber security jobs open, according to Cyber Seek, which tracks the jobs nationwide.

He thinks the need for cyber security has become more apparent to the general public after several high profile hacks of stores like Target in recent years, and after the Democratic National Committee was hacked during the presidential election.

At the same time, he said companies are recognizing the need for cyber security workers after the Securities and Exchange Commission said that it would be beneficial for every company that’s publicly traded to have someone who’s knowledgeable about cyber security on their board.

But, there aren’t enough programs nationwide that are training people to enter the field, he said.

“Right now, if we were to graduate everyone from all of the programs all around the country,” he said. "It still wouldn’t be enough.”