Although the cybersecurity field has seen major growth in recent years, a gender gap persists as women represent only 25% of the workforce, according to an Oct. 1 report from The Female Quotient and Deloitte Global.
In a survey, women pointed to several barriers that prevent them from entering the field, including uncertainty about skills and a lack of belonging.
“The cybersecurity industry is experiencing explosive growth, yet it’s facing a critical shortage of talent,” Emily Mossburg, leader of Deloitte Global Cyber, said in a statement. “It’s time to challenge the stereotypes and show women that cybersecurity not only offers the job security and growth opportunities they’re looking for, but also a chance to make a real difference in the world.”
Among young working women interested in cybersecurity, half said they feel they lack sufficient knowledge about the field, the report found.
Women also said they felt unwelcome in the field, with 55% saying cybersecurity could be an intimidating industry for them. In addition, 51% don’t think there’s room for someone like them in the industry, 51% don’t feel they would fit in or be able to be themselves, and 47% said they’re concerned that cybersecurity professionals wouldn’t take them seriously.
At the same time, women already working the field listed several positives: 57% said it provides job security, 53% said there are opportunities for on-the-job learning and 52% reported a strong sense of purpose.
To bridge the gender gap, HR pros can address myths around technical skill requirements, introduce cybersecurity to women earlier and implement inclusive hiring practices, the report found. Recruiters can also highlight aspects that appeal to women’s needs and aspirations, such as working in an industry with job security and purpose — and including these attributes in job descriptions.
Pay disparities persist in the industry, including both managerial and nonmanagerial roles, according to an ISC2 report. Although gender gaps remain a challenge for the field, cybersecurity appears to have more pay parity than the U.S. labor market in general, ISC2 said.
Even so, women feel excluded in cybersecurity roles and experience lower rates of satisfaction, productivity and retention, according to a report from Women in CyberSecurity. A lack of career and growth opportunities, as well as a lack of respect from leaders and peers, may hold women back in the industry, the group found.
More broadly in the tech industry, women of color continue to be disproportionately underrepresented, according to NPower data. Despite skill gains, a gap exists between recruiting needs and untapped talent, with women of color in tech only increasing by about 1 percentage point during the past decade.