Cybersecurity Workforce Trends and Skills

Recent Developments in Cybersecurity Workforce Trends and In-Demand Skills

Period: June 19–26, 2025

Cybersecurity Job Market Trends and Workforce Shortages

Surge in Demand for Cybersecurity Professionals: The increasing threat of AI-powered cyberattacks has led to a significant rise in demand for cybersecurity experts. Roles such as penetration testers and ethical hackers are particularly sought after. The cybersecurity sector is projected to grow annually by 10–12%, with approximately 17,000 current vacancies in the UK alone. Retailers and e-commerce companies account for 10% of these openings, a figure expected to rise. (techradar.com)
Deceleration in Cybersecurity Workforce Growth: For the first time in five years, the global cybersecurity workforce growth has slowed, increasing by only 0.1% year-over-year. In the U.S., the workforce shrank by nearly 5%, dropping from about 367,000 to 349,000 workers. This slowdown is attributed to budget cuts and hiring freezes, as companies prioritize revenue-generating teams over cybersecurity hires. (axios.com)

In-Demand Skill Sets

Emphasis on Practical Skills Over Formal Degrees: Employers are increasingly focusing on specific skills rather than formal qualifications. A study analyzing approximately 11 million UK job vacancies from 2018 to mid-2024 found that demand for AI roles grew by 21%, while mentions of university education requirements for these roles declined by 15%. AI skills command a wage premium of 23%, surpassing the value of degrees up to the PhD level. (arxiv.org)
Integration of AI and Machine Learning in Cybersecurity: The application of AI and machine learning in cybersecurity is gaining traction. Educational modules focusing on AI-assisted malware analysis are being developed to equip students with the skills to apply AI and ML techniques to real-world cybersecurity challenges. (arxiv.org)

Training and Certification Updates

Introduction of OSCP+ Certification: Offensive Security has introduced the Offensive Security Certified Professional Plus (OSCP+), an extension of the OSCP certification. Unlike the lifetime OSCP certification, OSCP+ requires renewal every three years, reflecting industry demands for current cybersecurity expertise. (en.wikipedia.org)
Skill-Driven Certification Pathways: Research indicates that combining university degrees with targeted industry certifications significantly enhances employability for technology roles. For instance, a Bachelor of Computer Science with an AI major combined with Microsoft's AI-900 certification achieved the highest skill similarity score for Machine Learning Engineer positions. Notably, non-technical degrees, such as nursing, experienced up to a 9,296% improvement in alignment with Machine Learning Engineer roles when augmented with AI certifications. (arxiv.org)

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) Initiatives: WiCyS continues to support the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in cybersecurity. The organization has over 300 student chapters in 16 countries and offers various training programs in partnership with organizations like (ISC)² and the SANS Institute. These initiatives aim to address the gender gap in the cybersecurity workforce. (en.wikipedia.org)

Surge in Demand for Cybersecurity Professionals Amid AI Threats: