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Why the Skills Gap in IT Security Might Get Wider

Cyber security Why the Skills Gap in IT Security Might Get Wider Schools aren’t adequately preparing young adults, particularly females in that age group, to pursue cyber-security careers, new research shows. Knowledge Gap Globally, 47% of men say they are aware of the job responsibilities involved in cyber-security careers, compared with only 33% of women. […]

Written By: Gina Roos

Nov 19, 2015

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Cyber security

Why the Skills Gap in IT Security Might Get Wider

Schools aren’t adequately preparing young adults, particularly females in that age group, to pursue cyber-security careers, new research shows.

Knowledge Gap

Globally, 47% of men say they are aware of the job responsibilities involved in cyber-security careers, compared with only 33% of women. In the U.S., the gap is larger: 51% of men and 33% of women know what a cyber-security career entails.

No Guidance

Globally, 62% of men and 75% of women said no secondary or high school computer classes offered the skills to help them pursue a cyber-security career. In the U.S., 57% of men and 74% of women said schools did not offer the skills needed.

Low Awareness

Globally, 57% of men and 66% of women said no teacher or career counselor mentioned cyber-security as a career. In the U.S., 55% of men, versus 69% of women said teachers and career counselors never mentioned cyber-security as a career.

No Qualifications

Globally, 25% of women and 23% of men said they haven’t sought out cyber-security programs because they did not think they were qualified. In the U.S., 33% of women felt they were not qualified versus 24% of men.

Career Choices

Globally, men are more likely (33%) than women (24%) to consider cyber-security as a career than they were a year ago. In the U.S., the gap is wider, with 40% of men and 23% of women choosing security as a career.

Gender Gap Widens

The gap between U.S. young men and women who would consider a career in Internet security is five times what it was a year ago.

Lack of Programs

Globally, 52% of women and 39% of men said no cyber-security programs or activities were available to them.

Bright Spot

28% of young adults globally are more likely to choose a career in cyber-security versus one year ago, while 16% are less likely.

No Interest

Of those who are less likely to pursue cyber-security jobs, 25% of females and 17% of males cited a lack of interest as the reason. In the U.S., the gap is higher: 36% of females, versus 12% of males.

Making a Difference or Making Money

50% of global respondents said believing in their employers’ missions is important to them, and 63% said salary is important.

More Info Needed

38% of millennials globally and 41% of millennials in the U.S. would like more information on what a cyber-security career entails.

Preconceived Barriers

Global respondents cited stress (21%) and the futility of fighting inevitable cyber-attacks (21%) as downsides of cyber-security careers. Other negatives included boring job tasks (18%) and inadequate salaries (15%).

Why the Skills Gap in IT Security Might Get Wider

Gina Roos

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