Key facts
- Security officers provide substantial social value but are often undervalued.
- The prestige of security work lags behind its perceived social contribution.
- Low pay and limited career paths are challenges for security officers.
- Security work is considered resilient to AI displacement.
- UK research indicates a significant gap between the social value and prestige of security roles.
Security guards are increasingly advocating for better pay and training, driven by a growing recognition of their essential role and the challenges they face. Unions are at the forefront of these efforts, highlighting a significant disconnect between the social value security officers provide and the occupational prestige and compensation they receive. Recent high-profile incidents, such as a shooting outside a mosque and increased threats to houses of worship, have amplified attention on the profession.
A UK study found that while the social value of security work—protecting people, enabling commerce, and maintaining public order—is recognized as substantial, the occupational prestige assigned to the role lags significantly behind. Security officers received a mean prestige score of 39.61, below the average of 45.87 for all occupations, while their social value score was 53.68. This disparity contributes to low pay, limited career pathways, and persistent recruitment and retention issues within the sector.
Despite these challenges, security work is noted for its resilience to AI displacement, suggesting that investment in human personnel remains crucial. Policy and procurement decisions that prioritize quality over the lowest cost, coupled with enhanced training and public understanding of the profession's importance, are seen as key to closing this gap.