Earlier this year we featured data backing the theory that it was better to hire hackers than try to do battle with them. Well, given the continuing surge in hiring in the cyber security sector, this may still be a viable concept.
Wanted Analytics brings us the data:
There have been many reports recently of cyber security threats and breaches in the US. The latest attacks were seen in the financial services sector, as well as on government systems. We thought it would be interesting to revisit hiring for cyber security jobs to see if demand is increasing again as the number of attacks also increase. In September, more than 4,500 jobs were advertised online for cyber security professionals in the US, a 19% increase compared to the same time period last year. With security threats and breaches becoming a greater concern for both private and public sector companies, it isn’t surprising that hiring demand is growing for this skill set. In fact, a new high in the number of available job ads was reached in July with 5,100 open positions.
Hiring Demand for Cyber Security Positions in the US – 4 Year Hiring Trend
Source: WANTED Analytics
The most commonly advertised job titles that require cyber security skills are below. Not surprisingly, these are IT related positions.
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Cyber Security Engineer
- Software Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Senior Cyber Security Analyst
- Information Technology Security Specialist
- Program Manager
- Information Security Analyst
- Information Assurance Engineer
- Systems Administrator
The metropolitan areas with the highest volume of listings in September were Washington (DC), Baltimore, New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco. Washington, DC saw the most available positions; however, Atlanta experienced the greatest growth in demand over the past year of these five areas. In Atlanta, hiring demand was up 200% in September compared to the same month last year.
Seeing as cyber security is a niche IT skill and demand is growing in general, you would probably expect these to be relatively difficult to recruit for. The Hiring Scale confirms that these jobs will be hard-to-fill, with ads staying online for an average of 6 weeks across the US. As more employers focus on securing information and networks and external threats evolve, hiring demand for cyber security jobs is likely to continue. Currently, the supply of potential candidates with this experience creates a very challenging market for employers.
Hiring Scales for Cyber Security Positions Across the US
Source: WANTED Analytics
However, each location and region of the US will experience a varying degree of difficulty when recruiting. Companies in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, DC are currently experiencing some of the most challenging overall recruiting conditions. Fierce competition has emerged as hiring in these areas is growing more quickly than the local talent supply can support. Job ads in this area remain online for an average of 7 weeks. In comparison, the Hiring Scale also shows that Tucson, Arizona and Kileen-Fort Hood, Texas are likely to see the least difficulty in recruiting for these positions. A larger talent supply compared to the hiring demand by employers in these 2 areas means that Recruiters are likely to fill open cyber security positions faster than average. The average duration of a job ad in these locations is 5 weeks, about one week shorter than the national average.
