Communications of the ACM
Cybersecurity Jobs: Young Adults Show Little Interest in the Field
A new study suggests that few young adults are interested in careers in cybersecurity.
Credit: enterpriseforkids.com
Few young adults are interested in cybersecurity careers, according to a study from Raytheon and Zogby Analytics.
Based on a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 to 26, just 24 percent of respondents expressed a desire to pursue a cybersecurity career. By contrast, 40 percent of respondents were interested in careers in the entertainment business, while 32 percent were interested in being an app designer/developer.
The study found that men more than women gravitated toward careers in cybersecurity.
Lack of awareness is one possible explanation for the disinterest in cybersecurity, as 82 percent of respondents noted that their high school guidance counselors never mentioned to them the possibility of a career in cybersecurity.
The survey also asked about workplace incentives in helping determine what kinds of jobs young adults want to pursue. The need for interesting work was cited by 69 percent of respondents, while 65 percent said competitive pay is critical.
Analysts say the impact of not having enough new talent in the pipeline could be fueling the increase in cyberattacks. The International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium reported earlier this year that existing IT security professionals feel swamped due to staffing shortages.
From eWeek
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