Nearly 10 Million People Filed for Unemployment in the US: What Does It Mean for the Cybersecurity and IT Workforce?

The Department of Labor reports almost 10 million people filing for unemployment benefits in the past two weeks, two-thirds of that last week. Security magazine spoke to cybersecurity experts to get some insight on how this will impact the cybersecurity workforce. They note examples of cybersecurity staff being laid off as a cost containment measure, a false economy at a time when the risks are specifically greater. They suggest that insider threats from disgruntled furloughed or fired employees are another danger, as would be failing to return to full staffing after the financial crisis is over. Others observe few jobs being eliminated, suggesting that this is due to the greater importance of technology for remote working.