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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.
This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
National Science Foundation: The STEM Workforce
aspeninstitute.org: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Cybersecurity
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