Gender gap persists in cybersecurity field despite available opportunities - HR Dive

Skip to main content CONTINUE TO SITE ➞ Search Gender gap persists in cybersecurity field despite available opportunities About half of women surveyed said they don’t feel like they would fit in or be able to be themselves, a Deloitte report said. Published Oct. 4, 2024 By Carolyn Crist Share License Add us on Google Getty Images Listen to the article 3 min 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. Add us on Google Share PURCHASE LICENSING RIGHTS Filed Under: Talent, Diversity & Inclusion Get the free newsletter Subscribe to HR Dive for top news, trends & analysis Email: Sign up MOST POPULAR Lush agrees to settle gender identity bias lawsuit dropped by EEOC Managers demonstrate below-average empathy, report finds Workday takes partial loss as judge refuses to dismiss claims in AI bias lawsuit Feds keep marijuana tests for workers despite Trump reclassification order LIBRARY RESOURCES TRENDLINE How AI is changing the workplace Supported by Nord Security TRENDLINE Promoting mental health in the workplace Supported by CuraLinc Healthcare WEBINAR - ON DEMAND High Impact of Women’s and Family Health Benefits Custom content for Maven Clinic View all COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS View all | Post a press release WHAT WE’RE READING REUTERS Starbucks may be neglecting labor dispute risks, shareholder proxy firms warn FOOD DIVE JBS workers go on strike at one of largest beef plants in the US THE GUARDIAN ‘Cruel hoax’ or ‘work-life balance nirvana’: whatever happened to the four-day work week? View all EVENTS View all | Promote an event INDUSTRY INTEL Frontline first: Turning retail store teams into your competitive advantage in 2026 WEBINAR - ON DEMAND • Provided by Axonify How Chess.com Tripled Its Global Workforce with a 4 Phase HR Automation Strategy WEBINAR - ON DEMAND • Provided by Rippling Scale With Confidence: Navigate Growth Through Uncertainty WEBINAR - ON DEMAND • Provided by Justworks HR Dive news delivered to your inbox Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts Email: Sign up COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS View all | Post a press release HR and Finance Leaders Show Differing Perspectives on Employee Compensation From Bettercomp February 27, 2026 The Omnia Group Releases Talent Trends Report 2026 Highlighting the AI Acceleration vs. Talent… From The Omnia Group, Inc. February 25, 2026 Zapier Survey Finds 98% of Executives Want Workers with AI Skills as Companies Race to Hire A… From Zapier February 25, 2026 LearnLux Awarded HR.com’s Best Financial Wellness Solution From LearnLux March 12, 2026 EDITORS’ PICKS Driver’s heart condition not a disability under the ADA, 8th Circuit affirms The case is a reminder of the contours of the law’s disability definition. By Ryan Golden • Feb. 13, 2026 Coca-Cola bottler excluded men from work trip, violating Title VII, EEOC alleges The lawsuit filing comes on the heels of employment attorneys predicting that “reverse discrimination” would be an EEOC priority for 2026. By Caroline Colvin • Updated Feb. 20, 2026 LATEST IN TALENT Employees say AI does more harm than good By Ginger Christ Skills-based talent practices can create $125K in ROI per worker, report says By Kathryn Moody Feds keep marijuana tests for workers despite Trump reclassification order By Ryan Golden Week in review: Workday lawsuit survives another day By Kathryn Moody EXPLORE About Editorial Team Contact Us Newsletter Purchase Licensing Rights Press Releases What We’re Reading REACH OUR AUDIENCE Advertising Post a press release Submit an opinion piece Promote an event RELATED PUBLICATIONS CFO Dive Marketing Dive SearchERP SearchHRSoftware This website is owned and operated by Informa TechTarget, a global network that informs, influences and connects the world’s technology buyers and sellers. © 2025 TechTarget, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. An Informa PLC company. Privacy policy | Terms of use | Take down policy | Cookie Preferences / Do Not Sell