More than 15,000 Cybersecurity Professionals Sought by Illinois Employers

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Nov 30, 2016, 10:30 ET

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Nov. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Employers across Illinois posted job openings for more than 15,000 cybersecurity workers over the past year, according to CyberSeek™, a new online resource designed to enhance our nation's cybersecurity workforce.

CyberSeek was introduced this month by the U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in cooperation with CompTIA, the world's leading technology association, and its partner, labor market analytics firm Burning Glass Technologies.

An estimated 29,671 people are employed in cybersecurity roles in Illinois, according to CyberSeek data. However, employers posted an estimated 15,381 job openings for cybersecurity workers. The top markets with open positions are:

Chicago (13,177)
Bloomington (514)
Moline-Rock Island-Davenport, Iowa (418)
Springfield (131)

"We've known for some time that there are gaps between the supply and demand of cybersecurity workers," said Tim Herbert, senior vice president, research and market intelligence, CompTIA. "By pinpointing the need to the state and local levels, CyberSeek fills in knowledge gaps so we can better understand the demand for cybersecurity professionals; the skills employers are looking for; and the true supply of professionals to fill those positions."

Illinois has a cybersecurity workforce supply-demand ratio of 1.9, compared to a national average of 2.2. This means the cybersecurity labor market in Illinois is tighter relative to many other states.

The cybersecurity job titles most often requested by Illinois employers include:

Cyber Security Analyst / Specialist
Cyber Security Engineer
Computer Scientists / Researchers
Auditor
Network Administrator

"Healthcare facilities, financial institutions, restaurants, retailers, and many other businesses have been the targets of cyber-attacks in recent months," said Alexi Madon, director, state government affairs, Midwest, CompTIA. "This daily drumbeat of news about cyber-threats is a constant reminder of the need for cybersecurity readiness. That readiness starts by fortifying the frontline of defense – cybersecurity professionals armed with the right education, certifications and skills."

CyberSeek's interactive heat map of cybersecurity jobs is augmented by the Career Pathway, which provides information on different types of positions to help students, job seekers and workforce trainers. The Career Pathway features information on common job titles, salaries, online job openings, in-demand skills, education and certifications related to careers in cybersecurity. CyberSeek is a free resource available to anyone interested in the cybersecurity workforce.

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SOURCE CompTIA