A recent study by CyberSeek, a collaboration between CompTIA, Lightcast, and NICE, has revealed a significant gap in the cybersecurity workforce in the United States. The research shows that current cybersecurity professionals are only able to meet 85% of employer demand, leaving nearly half a million positions unfilled.
The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), a federal program focused on cybersecurity under the National Institute of Standards and Technology, provided a grant to CompTIA and Lightcast to develop a cybersecurity career “heat map” known as CyberSeek. This interactive tool allows users to visualize the disparity between the number of available cybersecurity workers and the demand from employers. By drilling down to specific metropolitan areas, job seekers can identify regions where cybersecurity job opportunities are more abundant. For instance, in California, San Diego has only 87% of the jobs demand met, while Fresno exceeds the demand at 120%.
One of the key insights provided by CyberSeek is the mismatch between the certifications held by cybersecurity professionals and those required by employers. The data shows that there is a discrepancy between the number of professionals holding certain certifications and the number of job listings requesting those credentials. For example, CompTIA Security+ is the most popular certification among practitioners, with 265,992 certificate holders, but only 69,906 job listings ask for this certification. On the other hand, certifications like Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) are in high demand, with 47,230 and 36,162 job listings respectively, but there are not enough professionals with these certifications to meet the employer demand.
This disparity highlights the need for better alignment between the training and certifications available to cybersecurity professionals and the requirements set by hiring managers. By ensuring that professionals have the certifications that are most in demand in the industry, organizations can address the challenges in hiring and recruiting experienced cybersecurity professionals.
As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve and threats become more sophisticated, the demand for skilled professionals in this field is only expected to grow. It is crucial for stakeholders in the cybersecurity industry, including educational institutions, certification bodies, employers, and government agencies, to work together to bridge the gap between supply and demand in the cybersecurity workforce.
In conclusion, the CyberSeek study sheds light on the existing challenges in meeting the demand for cybersecurity professionals in the United States. By addressing the mismatch between certifications held by professionals and those required by employers, the industry can take a step towards closing the workforce gap and enhancing the overall cybersecurity posture of organizations across the country.