Gender variety in cybersecurity is slowly enhancing however inequities proceed—a brand new report finds that the sphere has 5% extra ladies than in 2023, however that they’re extra uncovered to different office challenges than male counterparts. About 32% of ladies respondents mentioned their organizations skilled safety layoffs over the past 12 months in comparison with simply 23% of male respondents.

For Ladies’s Historical past Month this March, ISC2 delved deeper into information collected for its 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Examine. The certification and coaching group surveyed 15,852 people answerable for cybersecurity at workplaces worldwide, of which 14% have been ladies. In 2024, ladies accounted for 22% of worldwide safety groups on common, in comparison with 17% in 2023, with the U.S. barely under common on illustration at 19.2%.

However 16% of respondents mentioned their firm’s safety workforce comprises no ladies in any respect, and solely 5% declare to have an excellent break up of women and men. Ladies employed in cybersecurity roles do have a tendency to carry seniority, as 55% of feminine respondents mentioned they’re in managerial or larger positions and 53% are capable of make hiring selections. Solely 7% are in C-Suite positions like CTO and CISO, however there are fewer of those roles out there.

SEE: Ladies in Tech: Steps Leaders Can Take to Enhance Retention and Profession Alternatives

Ladies disproportionately uncovered to office challenges

The report discovered that 67% of ladies in cybersecurity are happy with their job, in comparison with 66% of males. Whereas this determine is excessive for each sexes, it marks an ongoing declining pattern. In 2022, 82% of ladies and 73% of males reported job satisfaction, and 76% and 70% respectively in 2023. The analysts put this pattern all the way down to rising “financial and workload pressures.”

There are well-documented expertise shortages within the trade resulting in overworked employees, however the ISC2 information suggests that ladies are being extra uncovered to different office challenges than their male counterparts. Along with the disparity between ladies and men who skilled safety layoffs over the past 12 months, 40% of ladies respondents skilled cybersecurity price range cuts and 42% skilled hiring freezes, in comparison with 36% and 37% of males, respectively. Solely 31% of males in cybersecurity famous that their groups had frozen promotions and pay rises in comparison with 36% of ladies.

“The information reveals that the organizations the place feminine contributors work have skilled cybersecurity cutbacks at larger charges than male contributors,” ISC2 analysts mentioned.