AI Skills in Cybersecurity Jobs Skyrocket as Junior Hiring Stalls
The AI Workforce Consortium has reported that job postings for cybersecurity positions across G7 economies have seen a significant increase in requirements for AI skills. Over the past year, the share of job postings asking for AI skills doubled from 14.2% to 28.5%. This growth is particularly evident in senior-titled roles, which saw a 65% increase in the six months through March.
The same analysis shows that junior-hiring has not kept pace with this trend, growing only 5.9% over the same period. The experience paradox is observed where employers are asking for senior skills in nominally entry-level positions. In fact, a survey conducted by Cisco Systems Inc., which founded the consortium, found that hands-on experience with AI agents was the top gap (49%) among entry-level candidates.
The growing importance of AI skills in cybersecurity jobs is also reflected in salary figures. According to Lightcast data cited by the consortium, U.S. cybersecurity jobs requiring AI skills advertise a median salary 14.9% higher than the field overall. The consortium's upskilling target is now 130 million people over the next decade.