Cyber ​​job openings remain flat amid tech industry cutbacks.

Demand for cyber workers has continued in recent months as the broader tech industry suffers from a wave of job cuts, according to data published today.

Why is it important? Cyber ​​security job openings represent a bright spot in a grim employment outlook for the tech sector.

In numbers: In the year The total number of employed cybersecurity workers in 2022 remains relatively unchanged from previous estimates of 1.1 million, according to new data from the National Institute for Cybersecurity Education, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, trade group CompTIA and data company Lightcast.

• At the same time, employers posted 755,743 cyber vacancies in all of 2022 — down about 2% from the 769,736 posted between October 2021 and September 2022, the last time these groups compiled such data.
• Public sector cyber security demand will grow by 25% by 2022 with 45,708 job vacancies. Private sector demand grew 21 percent to about 710,000.

The big picture: Will Markow, Lightcast’s vice president of action research, told Axios that while demand for new cyber recruiters has not increased, “it’s definitely going to continue to be as strong as ever.”

• The two most in-demand roles are cybersecurity engineers and cybersecurity analysts, Markow said, while penetration testers and network security architects are also in high demand.

Minimize: Employers have been struggling to fill open cybersecurity roles for years.

• In the year By 2022, there will be 68 cybersecurity workers for every 100 open roles, according to new data. The United States needs about 530,000 more cybersecurity workers to close the gap.

Between the lines; Staffing shortages Cybersecurity workers are in the best position to survive layoffs in the tech industry, Markow said.

• “There are still attacks from all sides,” Marco said. “Firing the cyber security staff feels like firing the sheriff when Billy the Kid rides into town.”

Yes, but: Some cyber workers are still victims of layoffs. Last week, TechCrunch reported that Sophos plans to lay off 450 employees, or about 10% of its workforce.

The plot: The economic downturn may prompt many employers to prioritize entry-level cybersecurity hires, who are often low-paid and typically have difficulty breaking into the industry.

• Only 10% of cyber jobs are open to those without a bachelor’s degree, and 10% to 15% of roles are open to people with less than three years of experience, Markow told Axios.
• “This has effectively cut the entry level into the cyber security career ladder and made it very difficult for us to bring new blood into the industry,” he added.

The main point is: With hacks and breaches on the rise, cybersecurity isn’t seeing the same catastrophic job cuts as other tech industries.

• Instead, the industry is still struggling to produce the workforce needed to meet demand.

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