Impact of Cybersecurity Skills Gap on the U.S. Economy and National Security

ABSTRACT
The increasing cases of cyberattacks have made it a point of focus for many researchers as it now 
targets larger organizations. These attacks not only result in financial disruptions but also affect 
the organization’s reputation and third-party firms in relation to the organization. However, with 
the growing recognition of the effect of cyberattacks on organizations, third-party firms, and 
people, there is still a significant skill gap in dealing with imminent threats. While the U.S. has 
experienced a considerable drop in the number of available cybersecurity roles in the past years, 
the number of organizations lacking or seeking a cybersecurity expert is still rising.
This study uses secondary data and analysis to review the impacts of the cybersecurity skills gap 
on the U.S. economy and national security. The study, which limited the secondary sources used 
to the last 5 years, revealed that the U.S. economy and national security are intertwined, making 
cybersecurity in the digital world a critical aspect. The finding also indicated a need for 
collaboration between private and public sectors to address the skills gap issue. Lastly, as different 
sectors have different attacks, there is a need to develop sector-specific initiatives that address the 
lack of skilled cybersecurity experts.