Quantum-safe cryptography enters the UK security brief

What does the state of defence and security hiring look like now?

The talent pool is growing, but slowly. There are approximately 143,000 individuals in the UK cyber security workforce, with growth moderately accelerating from 2% in 2022 to 5% in 2024 Cyber security skills in the UK labour market 2025 - GOV.UK. That tells us two things. Demand is clearly rising, and the people who can do this work are still in short supply.

Quantum-safe cryptography raises the bar again. As the UK moves towards post-quantum encryption standards, defence and security teams need people who understand both today's cryptography and the migration path to algorithms that can withstand a future quantum computer. That's a narrow and highly specialised slice of an already stretched workforce.

Which roles and skills matter most for post-quantum work?

The core demand sits with cryptographers, security architects and engineers who can map where encryption lives across an organisation. Before you can migrate, you have to find every system, certificate and protocol that relies on current public-key cryptography. That discovery work is now a job in its own right.

Alongside them, you need people who can implement and test the new standards: software engineers comfortable with cryptographic libraries, quality and assurance specialists who can validate the migration, and risk leads who can prioritise what gets protected first. The wider skills shortage matters here, with a UK cyber workforce of approximately 143,000 individuals growing at 5% in 2024 Cyber security skills in the UK labour market 2025 - GOV.UK, competition for these specialists is sharp.

Clearance adds another layer. Much defence and security work requires security vetting, which narrows the pool further and lengthens the time from offer to start. Planning for that early saves weeks later.

How do you hire well for quantum-safe cryptography roles?

Start by being precise about what you actually need. A pure cryptographer, a migration engineer and a governance lead are three different hires. Writing one vague job description for all three slows everyone down and puts off the specialists you want.

Then widen your search. With a workforce of around 143,000 people growing at 5% a year Cyber security skills in the UK labour market 2025 - GOV.UK, you can't rely on the handful of names already in your network. Look across adjacent fields: mathematicians, hardware security specialists and software engineers with strong cryptography foundations can often move into post-quantum work with the right support.

• Separate the roles: discovery, migration engineering, assurance and governance each deserve their own brief.
• Factor clearance timelines into your plan from day one, not after the offer.
• Assess for learning ability, because post-quantum standards are still maturing.
• Move quickly once you find the right person, since specialists rarely stay on the market long.

Speed is the quiet differentiator. In a market this tight, the team that responds first and keeps the process short usually wins the hire.

Where does the right hiring partner fit in defence and security?

This is where we help. We search a database of 15 million candidates to surface people with the cryptography, engineering and assurance skills these roles need, and we manage the process end to end so your team can stay focused on the technical work. Our recruitment agent manages recruitment end to end for 8% on a successful hire, with no monthly fee and no upfront cost. If you're building a quantum-safe team, tell us what you need and we'll start matching today with Reed.ai.

Sources

• Cyber security skills in the UK labour market 2025 - GOV.UK