Cybersecurity workforce statistics: 2026 reference sheet
A compact, source-led view of the cybersecurity workforce, skills pressure, and the U.S. outlook for information security analysts. Every figure below names its source and reporting period.
Read the numbers in context.
Cybersecurity is not one job, one labour market, or one hiring signal. The global figures below describe a workforce estimate and respondents’ reported needs. The U.S. figures describe one occupation, information security analysts. Keeping those measures separate makes the page more useful to cite and less likely to overstate what any one number proves.
estimated active cybersecurity professionals worldwide
ISC2 estimated the global active cybersecurity workforce at 5,468,173 in its 2024 study, a 0.1% increase from 2023.
Source: ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, 2024estimated global workforce gap
ISC2’s 2024 gap estimate was 4,763,963, up 19.1% from the prior year. It measures the difference between the workforce respondents say they need and the active workforce, not open roles.
Source: ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, 2024of respondents reported a staffing shortage
In the 2024 ISC2 study, 67% of respondents said they did not have the staff needed to meet their goals.
Source: ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, 2024of respondents reported one or more team skills gaps
ISC2 reported that 90% of respondents had at least one skills gap on their cybersecurity teams.
Source: ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, 2024projected U.S. growth for information security analysts, 2024–34
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects information security analyst employment to rise from 192,900 in 2024 to 233,400 in 2034.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34average annual U.S. openings for information security analysts
The BLS projects an average of 14,100 openings a year for information security analysts across the 2024–34 decade.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34median annual wage for U.S. information security analysts
The BLS lists a 2024 median annual wage of $129,180 for information security analysts. Pay varies by experience, location, industry, and role.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024Demand does not remove the need for sound preparation.
The figures point to sustained pressure on security teams, but they do not guarantee an entry-level role, a particular salary, or a short route into the field. The useful response is practical: build evidence that you can reason about access, controls, risk, documentation, and the consequences of a system change.
For readers working in or moving toward enterprise security, the press’s Workday Security Governance guide examines those decisions inside a Workday tenant, from security groups and domain policies to access reviews and incident response.
How this reference sheet is maintained.
Updated October 5, 2026. This page uses the latest clearly dated public figures available from the sources listed below. Figures are reproduced as reported, with their original scope retained. ISC2’s workforce gap is not a count of current job vacancies. BLS figures are U.S. occupational projections and wage data for information security analysts, not a total count of cybersecurity jobs.
- ISC2, 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, published October 2024. Global workforce estimate, workforce gap, staffing shortage, and skills-gap responses.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Projections and Worker Characteristics, 2024–34 projections and 2024 wage data for information security analysts.
Cite this page
Cyber Documents Learning Press. “Cybersecurity Workforce Statistics: 2026 Reference Sheet.” Updated October 5, 2026. https://iqra.f2b.co/cybersecurity-workforce-statistics