U.S Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST) has created a free interactive online website, CyberSeek, to help cybersecurity job seekers understand opportunities, find openings, and develop a plan for career advancement. Globally, the cybersecurity field is woefully understaffed, with estimates ranging from 1.5 to 2 million unfulfilled positions. In the U.S. alone it is estimated that 778 thousand positions are filled, leaving an enormous gap of almost 350 thousand jobs currently open. That imbalance represents tremendous opportunities for job seekers, while leaving organizations, governments, and businesses in desperate need as they may be vulnerable to attacks and potentially not in compliance with regulatory requirements.
The site offers a number of U.S. focused tools, including an Interactive Map and Career Pathway which give visitors valuable data on job openings and career advancement opportunities.
Interactive Map
The interactive map shows a geographical breakdown by state and metro areas for open positions and the supply of workers. It provides national-level data and by clicking on your state/metro and you will receive more specific information. A breakdown of job types and certifications is also available.
This is a great tool to understand what kinds of jobs are unfilled in a candidate’s desired areas and provides a rough comparative analysis for security certification expectations.
Career Pathway
The career pathway is a basic tool showing how cybersecurity workers can progress through roles in advancing their careers. The number of job openings and average salary data is provided.
CyberSeek is exactly what hiring organizations, academia, and job seekers need! A free resource for supply and demand data of cybersecurity positions and career advancement. I applaud NIST and supporting partners BurningGlass, CompTIA, and the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) for creating this site to help close the gap of unfilled cybersecurity positions in the U.S.
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