Hack the Gap: Close the cybersecurity talent gap with interactive tools and data

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About this tool

Cybersecurity workers protect our most important and private information, from bank accounts to sensitive military communications. However, there is a dangerous shortage of cybersecurity workers in the United States that puts our digital privacy and infrastructure at risk.

From April 2017 through March 2018, there were 122,000 openings for Information Security Analysts, but only 105,000 workers currently employed in those positions – an annual talent shortfall of 17,000 workers for cybersecurity’s largest job.

There are nearly 200,000 additional openings requesting cybersecurity-related skills, and employers are struggling to find workers who possess them. Jobs requesting public cloud security skills, for example, remain open 79 days on average – longer than almost any other IT skill.

To help close the cybersecurity skills gap, CyberSeek provides detailed, actionable data about supply and demand in the cybersecurity job market.
Interactive Map

A heat map of cybersecurity supply and demand
Career Pathway

An interactive career pathway showing common roles within cybersecurity and transition opportunities between them

Who is this tool for?

CyberSeek can support local employers, educators, guidance and career counselors, students, current workers, policy makers, and other stakeholders as they answer the following questions:

Employers

  • How large is the cybersecurity workforce in my region? How does that compare to other locations?
  • How much does it cost to hire cybersecurity workers in my region?
  • How hard will it be to fill cybersecurity positions in my region? Do I need to source cybersecurity workers from other regions?

Educators & Career Counselors

  • Should I offer a cybersecurity training program for my students?
  • What skills should we teach students to prepare them for careers in cybersecurity? What courses should they take?
  • What education levels do employers require for cybersecurity workers in my community?
  • What entry-level jobs can students target to begin their careers in cybersecurity?
  • What cybersecurity certifications are most in demand in my community? Are there enough certification holders to meet demand? Should I prepare students for these certifications?

Students

  • Is there strong demand for cybersecurity jobs in my region?
  • What skills and educational credentials do I need to enter a career in cybersecurity?
  • How much can I make if I work in cybersecurity?

Job Seekers & Current Workers

  • How in-demand are cybersecurity jobs in my community?
  • What roles can I target to start my career in cybersecurity?
  • How can I transition between cybersecurity roles and advance my career?

Policy Makers

  • How large is the cybersecurity workforce in my community? How does that compare to other locations?
  • How severe is the workforce shortage in my community?
  • What types of cybersecurity jobs are most demanded in my community?

Spread the Word: Download a Sharable CyberSeek One-Pager

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Project partners

Burning Glass Technologies delivers job market analytics that empower employers, workers, and educators to make data-driven decisions.

Burning Glass is reshaping how the job market works, with data that identify the skill gaps that keep job seekers and employers apart and tools that enable both sides to bridge that gap and connect more easily. The company’s artificial intelligence technology analyzes hundreds of millions of job postings and real-life career transitions to provide insight into labor market patterns.

This real-time strategic intelligence offers crucial insights, such as which jobs are most in demand, the specific skills employers need, and the career directions that offer the highest potential for workers. Based in Boston, Burning Glass is playing a growing role in informing the global conversation on education and the workforce, and in creating a job market that works for everyone.

For more information, visit burning-glass.com

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a not-for-profit trade association serving the needs of technology professionals, technology companies, and aspiring technology workers.

With over 2 million A+, Security+, Network+ and other certifications issued to date, CompTIA is the global leader in vendor-neutral certifications, providing workers of all levels a mechanism to develop and validate their technical skills. CompTIA has invested millions in educational resources, research, and philanthropy to advance the IT jobs landscape.

Through its advocacy arm, CompTIA champions member-driven business and IT priorities that impact all information technology companies from small-managed solutions providers and software developers to large equipment manufacturers and communications service providers.

For more information, visit comptia.org

The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is a partnership between government, academia, and the private sector focused on cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development.

The mission of NICE is to energize and promote a robust network and an ecosystem of cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development. NICE fulfills this mission by coordinating with government, academic, and industry partners to build on existing successful programs, facilitate change and innovation, and bring leadership and vision to increase the number of skilled cybersecurity professionals helping to keep our Nation secure.

For more information, visit nist.gov/nice

This project is supported by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the U.S. Department of Commerce, under Grant #60NANB15D267.