More Than 1 in 5 Cyber Jobs Vacant at Key DHS Division

More than one in five jobs at a key cybersecurity component within the Homeland Security Department (DHS) are vacant, in large part due to steep competition in recruiting and hiring qualified personnel, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office.

The report, which assessed recruiting and hiring efforts at DHS overall, found that the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications – the subcomponent within the National Protection and Programs Directorate that houses cybersecurity personnel – has a vacancy rate of 22 percent. NPPD officials cited challenges in recruiting cyber professionals because of the length of time taken to conduct security checks to grant top-secret security clearances as well as low pay in comparison with the private sector. NPPD has taken a number of steps to help offset these recruiting challenges, including using direct hire authority and establishing relationships with cybersecurity centers of academic excellence to create a pipeline of qualified cyber staff. There also are department-wide efforts to boost the cyber workforce, particularly through the creation of a specific cybersecurity job series, GAO found.