By Rameez Khizer
As someone who has worked in IT for the last 10 years and in Cyber for the last 5, I can honestly say the market is not as strong as it once was. It seems the market was booming a few years back and I was getting contacted for new roles constantly throughout the day. In fact- I was getting contacted for new roles so often I made an alternative phone number via google voice because I could not stand to be bothered by recruiters anymore. I thought the market was going to stay steady and only get stronger; a mistake we all make especially when we are comfortable. But that volume has decreased drastically. My thesis for this is due to several reasons:
Reason 1: the overall unemployment rate is high The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.6% in November 2025, a rise from early 2025 making a four-year high. This means about 7.8 million people are unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This rate is higher than the 4.2% seen a year prior, showing a softening in the labor market. There may still be job growth but it is at a snails pace compared to previous years. During the Covid ERA, tech companies went on a massive hiring spree to meet the demand for “tech growth”. This led to over hiring which seemed fitting at first, however now we are seeing the haunting aftermath- significant layoffs in what seems to be an aggressive post hiring hangover. Demand eventually normalized and companies focused on cost-cutting to increase spending power and maximize profits. More than 300,000 tech workers were laid off in the last few years, creating a saturated and dense job market. Furthermore, Economic Factors such as higher interest rates affecting company budgets, and a shift towards an "investment-heavy, hiring-light" posture have caused companies to put tech projects on hold and reduce hiring costs overall. There is an oversupply of college grads that all essentially have similar accolades. The "learn to code" narrative of the last decade encouraged a massive increase in computer science and IT enrollment. Universities continued to produce a record number of graduates just as the market demand for entry-level roles softened, leading to intense competition for available positions. Employers report a mismatch between the skills taught in university curriculum (which can be outdated or overly theoretical compared to the practical and specialized industry skills which are needed such as expertise in cloud computing and engineering.) Companies are prioritizing experienced talent, making it difficult for new graduates to get their foot in the door.
Reason 2: AI The rapid advancement and presence of AI tools are fundamentally changing and more importantly, revising how work gets done in the tech. AI is increasingly capable of handling lower-level, routine coding and software development tasks, reducing the need for entry-level workers, internships and even in some cases- mid level roles. AI systems excel at processing vast amounts of data, identifying patterns, and handling high-volume tasks such as log analysis, threat detection, and vulnerability assessments far more quickly and effortlessly than humans. This shift means a reduction in manual, repetitive work for analysts, allowing the technology to act as a powerful supporting tool that reduces response times for potential threats. As a result, the day-to-day work of a cybersecurity professional and tech specialists can arguably be replaced. Companies are using AI adoption as justification to reduce overall hiring. Unfortunately, with the increase of popularity and addition of artificial intelligence; tech workers are taking a hit. The good news is Professionals are still needed for tasks requiring contextual reasoning, human judgment, ethical hacking, red teaming, innovation and adaptability beyond AI's current structured logic- so don’t give up on your cyber career just yet! Human oversight is also critical to manage AI systems effectively, including mitigating data biases, preventing false positives, and ensuring regulatory compliance needs are met. Important to note: AI is far from a job killer in the grab scheme of things - the industry continues to face a significant global talent shortage, with an estimated 3.5 million unfilled jobs through 2025, ensuring human demand remains high.
Reason 3: Offshore Offshoring work has been a topic in the technology sector for years due to the reduced operational costs. The fundamental economic incentive for businesses is the ability to leverage a global talent pool that often demands significantly lower salaries than their counterparts in the US. This significant cost difference allows companies to increase profit margins and free up capital for other things. Consequently, many IT and cyber roles are shifted to countries where the cost of living and average salaries are substantially lower such as India, Philippines, and more. Not only this- but offshoring work also helps US companies participate in the "follow the sun" (FTS) model meaning they have business deliverables 24/7 to get ahead of their competitors. When companies choose to open offices overseas rather than expand locally, a direct opportunity for domestic professionals is lost. For many graduates entering the field, not only do young professionals have to compete with AI; now they must compete with professionals on a global scale. Lastly, the rise of remote work culture (mainly due to COVID) has expanded geographical boundaries, accelerating the trend of global competition for jobs. Companies are no longer limited by physical domestic office locations and can easily hire remote workers from anywhere in the world. This flexibility, while beneficial for some business models, means a US-based tech professional is not just competing with a coworker in a 20–50-mile radius but with skilled professionals across continents.
In summary, due to a nervous economy, AI, and offshoring work, the job market in cybersecurity has weakened. But there are still jobs and growth to be confident about. It is important to increase your skills and knowledge to compete in such environments. I hope this article helps with which direction you choose to go in moving forward.