Professionally, nearly half of respondents worked in Technology/IT services (47.1%), with others in education, finance, fintech, and healthcare. Cybersecurity roles varied across defensive security (36.5%), education/awareness (24.7%), offensive security (23.6%), and GRC (23.2%). Most people had 1–3 years of experience, while nearly a third were beginners with less than one year.

The Cybersecurity Industry Statistics Survey collected responses from 263 participants, primarily from Nigeria (65.8%) and other African countries. Most respondents were young adults aged 18–34. The majority held a Bachelor’s degree (77.2%) and worked in full-time roles (46%), although a significant portion were students or unemployed.

Getting into cybersecurity remained a challenge—internships (38.4%) were the most common entry path, and many stated they had not yet secured their first cybersecurity job. Although 74.1% had at least one cybersecurity certification, most certifications did not lead to salary increases or promotion. Access to certifications was largely through scholarships (63.1%) rather than personal funding.

A major concern across participants included barriers such as difficulty securing jobs, high cost of certification, keeping up with AI-driven threats, and limited opportunities for beginners. Income levels were generally low, with 41.8% reporting no cybersecurity income and another 25.5% earning under $1,000 annually from cybersecurity work.

Overall, the survey highlights a young, diverse, and ambitious cybersecurity community facing significant challenges in skill development, job access, compensation, and career progression—yet demonstrating strong interest and growing participation in the field.