Skip to content

Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023

Is cybersecurity one of the least diverse industries?

Eric Neugeboren, The Nevada Independent
yes

Women and minorities are underrepresented in the cybersecurity industry, with employment rates lower than the STEM industry as a whole.

A 2021 Aspen Institute study found Black people make up 9% of the cybersecurity industry, even though they represent 13% of the U.S. population. Hispanic workers represent just 4% of the industry, despite making up 19% of the country’s population. Women also make up more than half of the U.S. population but less than a quarter of cybersecurity jobs.

Cybersecurity jobs tend to be less diverse than the broader STEM field. A National Science Foundation (NSF) study this year found Hispanic workers make up 15% of the STEM workforce, while women make up 35%. 

Science and engineering jobs are usually less diverse, while jobs that do not typically require a bachelor’s degree are more diverse, according to the NSF study.

See a full discussion of this at The Nevada Independent

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

About fact briefs

Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by Gigafact contributor publications.

See all fact briefs

The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement. We are supported by corporate donations, memberships, event ticket sales and sponsorships and foundation grants. We disclose all our members and donors. Donors have no influence over our content, ever. The Nevada Independent is the dba for Nevada News Bureau, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2010 by Elizabeth Thompson, who now serves as one of The Nevada Independent's managing directors and its Editor.

Learn More

Latest Fact Briefs

Be a Friend of facts

Help us fund more great fact briefs like this one.