Growing Cybersecurity Job Market In 2023 | What You Need To Know Today

Cybersecurity

December 22, 2022

The cybersecurity job market remains red hot going into 2023. According to the ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, there is a worldwide gap of 3.4 million cybersecurity professionals. Considering that the current global cybersecurity workforce is estimated at 4.7 million people, there are many opportunities to break into the cybersecurity industry.

In this article, we will summarize what you need to know about the Cybersecurity Job Market based on a recent survey of cybersecurity professionals. You’ll learn about their experiences, recruiting trends, job satisfaction, and the future of cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity Job Market Grows 26% Year Over Year

According to ISC2, over 464,000 cybersecurity jobs were filled in 2022. While this is significant progress for the growing cybersecurity workforce, the shortage of cybersecurity workers continues to increase at 26.2% year-over-year.

Demand in cybersecurity skills is a cornerstone for many companies. The trend is expected to continue with cybersecurity skills in high demand with rising geopolitical tensions and the increased frequency of data breaches or cyber attacks.

Cybersecurity Staff Shortages Increase Risk of Cyber Attacks

Unsurprisingly, cybersecurity professionals believe that a staff shortage results in increased risk of a cybersecurity attack for their organization. Intuitively, this makes sense, but when you compare today’s threat landscape to prior years, it has significantly changed.

Concerns grew in 2022 regarding the lack of resources to perform adequate risk assessments and oversight for process and procedure. If the trend continues, these blindspots could potentially result in cybersecurity issues down the road.

Inadequate resources for proper risk assessment

  • 2021 31% 31%
  • 2022 48% 48%

Inadequate oversight in process and procedure

  • 2021 29% 29%
  • 2022 43% 43%

Top 3 Reasons for Staff Shortage in Cybersecurity Job Market

Many cybersecurity professionals recognized a cybersecurity staff shortage in their organizations due to increasing workload, shifting priorities, and increasing threats. Based on survey results across 11,779 professionals, here are the top reasons on why they think are the causes for the shortage in the cybersecurity job market.

Top 3 Reasons for Cybersecurity Staff Shortage

  • Unable to find and hire qualified talent 43% 43%
  • High turnover / attrition 33% 33%
  • My company struggles with competitive compensation 31% 31%

Cybersecurity Job Satisfaction Remains High

According to ISC2, 75% of cybersecurity professionals are satisfied with their overall job within the industry. However with an increasing cybersecurity job market, it is quite common that many seek growth opportunities or a change of scenery for a fresh start.

Top Reasons for Making a Change in Role

Growth Opportunities

  • Higher Compensation 31% 31%
  • Promotion / Title 31% 31%
  • Career Growth / Advancement 30% 30%

Work Environment

  • Unhealthy Work Culture 25% 25%
  • Burn Out 21% 21%
  • Work Life Balance 19% 19%

Most Important Qualifications for the Cybersecurity Job Market

As you may have noticed, there are numerous cybersecurity certifications that exist today. Some are more popular than others, but are they really necessary? The answer is it depends on the hiring manager and role. According to the ISC2 survey, here are the increasing and decreasing trends for cybersecurity qualifications.

Cybersecurity Qualifications

↑ Increasing Trends

  • Relevant work experience
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Knowledge of cybersecurity concepts

↓ Decreasing Trends

  • Cybersecurity certifications
  • Attending conferences
  • Cybersecurity related degrees

Break into the Cybersecurity Job Market Today

Looking for ways to break into the cybersecurity job market? Everyone has a different story or path to get there, but it is very clear that many opportunities exist within the cybersecurity industry. With the ever changing cybersecurity landscape and emerging risks from new technology, 2023 is a great time to make a career change. Your path to a cybersecurity role is highly dependent on your specific background and experience. If you’re interested, please consider scheduling a call with me today for a personalized plan to break into the cybersecurity industry.

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