By Ashwani Mishra, Editor-Technology, 63SATS
For years, cybersecurity has been considered a recession-proof industry, with organizations prioritizing digital security even in tough economic conditions.
However, the latest ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study reveals a concerning trend—workforce reductions are now hitting cybersecurity teams, impacting hiring, retention, and overall job satisfaction.
This shift has been particularly tough on women in cybersecurity, who already make up a smaller fraction of the workforce.
As layoffs, budget cuts, and hiring freezes sweep through the industry, women’s job satisfaction has taken a significant hit.
Where Do Women Stand in Cybersecurity?
The gender imbalance in cybersecurity remains significant, with women making up only 22% of security teams on average.
The Global Cybersecurity Forum’s 2024 Workforce Report and LinkedIn data from 14 countries support this finding, showing that women’s representation in cybersecurity ranges from 26.7% in Italy to just 14.6% in Germany. The U.S. lags at 18.3%, Canada fares slightly better at 21.2%, and the U.K. sits at 17.9%.
Percentage of Women in Cybersecurity Team (Image ISC2)
Even more concerning, 16% of cybersecurity teams have no women at all, while only 5% report gender parity. In organizations where women are present, their representation often remains low:
- 21% of respondents said women make up just 10% or less of their teams.
- 19% reported that women account for 11-20%, aligning with the global average.
However, there is a slight improvement in larger organizations:
- Small companies (1-499 employees): 20% of cybersecurity teams are women.
- Mid-size companies (500-5,000 employees): 22% women.
- Large enterprises (5,000+ employees): 23% women.
Industries with the Highest and Lowest Female Representation
Some industries have a better gender balance than others. Women hold 27% of cybersecurity roles in cloud services and construction, followed closely by real estate (26%), security software development (25%), and retail (25%).
At the other end of the spectrum, the military (18%) and legal sector (19%) report the lowest female representation. Other industries such as education, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing hover around 20%, showing only a slight improvement.
Women in Leadership: A Promising Trend
Despite the gender gap, women in cybersecurity are holding leadership positions at higher rates than expected.
- 55% of women in cybersecurity are in managerial or higher roles, with 7% holding executive positions such as CISO, CTO, or CIO.
- 53% of female respondents are hiring decision-makers, playing a key role in shaping security teams.
Additionally, women entering the field often have strong academic credentials:
- 38% hold a bachelor’s degree (51% in cybersecurity or IT, 12% in engineering).
- 48% have a master’s degree (58% in cybersecurity, 10% in engineering).
- 9% have a doctorate or post-doctorate.
These numbers highlight that women are not only contributing to cybersecurity but are also leading the way—yet challenges remain.
Job Satisfaction and Workplace Challenges
While women in cybersecurity have historically reported higher job satisfaction than men, the study shows a sharp decline in recent years.
In 2022, 82% of women were satisfied with their cybersecurity roles.
By 2024, this number had dropped to 67%.
Men also saw a decline from 73% in 2022 to 66% in 2024.
The study attributes this drop to economic pressures, layoffs, and hiring freezes that have significantly affected the cybersecurity industry.
Impact of Layoffs on Women in Cybersecurity
One of the key reasons for declining job satisfaction is job security concerns:
32% of women in cybersecurity reported that their companies experienced layoffs in the past year, compared to 23% of men.
Among women whose own security teams faced layoffs, job satisfaction dropped to 64%.
Those who experienced organization-wide layoffs reported slightly higher satisfaction at 66%.
Women who saw no layoffs in their workplace had a higher satisfaction rate of 71%.
In comparison, men’s job satisfaction was lower across the board:
- 59% for cybersecurity layoffs,
- 64% for broader company layoffs,
- 70% for no layoffs.
These findings suggest that while layoffs affect both genders, women in cybersecurity may face additional challenges, such as being more vulnerable to job cuts in male-dominated teams.
Beyond Layoffs: Budget Cuts and Career Stagnation
Layoffs are not the only concern—budget cuts, hiring freezes, and stalled career growth are also impacting women in cybersecurity:
- 40% of women experienced cybersecurity budget cuts, compared to 36% of men.
- 42% of women reported hiring freezes, compared to 37% of men.
- 36% of women faced promotion and pay freezes, compared to 31% of men.
These numbers indicate that women in cybersecurity are disproportionately affected by financial constraints in the industry. When hiring is frozen and promotions are halted, women have fewer opportunities to advance, further widening the gender gap.
The ISC2 report makes it clear—women in cybersecurity are highly educated, hold leadership roles, and are making an impact. However, without proactive measures to address layoffs, job satisfaction, and career advancement, the industry risks losing talented women at a time when cybersecurity expertise is needed more than ever.
This Women’s Day, let’s recognize the contributions of women in cybersecurity and work towards a future where gender parity, job security, and career growth are a reality for all professionals in the field.
