Dive Brief:

• A new study from Raytheon and the National Cyber Security Alliance found that despite a hot job market and a lack of talent, adults ages 18 to 26 worldwide don't show significant interest in the cybersecurity field.

• Lack of awareness about just what cybersecurity jobs entail may be partly to blame, the study found. The study showed that at the secondary and high school level, women may not be getting the guidance that men get.

• The study also found that young women are less interested and informed about the field than men.

Dive Insight:

The study also confirmed a gender gap: 52% of millennial women said cybersecurity programs and activities were not available to them, while 39% of millennial men said the same. Just 33% of women in the survey were even aware of what a cybersecurity job involves, and 25% of the women surveyed said they were less likely to pursue a career in Internet security now than they were a year ago.

However, 38% of millennials said they have competed in cybersecurity contests or looked for internships, scholarships and mentoring programs in cybersecurity.

"Young adults say they want careers that use skills required for cyber careers," the report says.

The report was based on a survey of 4,000 millennials worldwide

Another recent survey, by ISC2, found only 10% of cyber professionals are women.

"It is certainly alarming to see it go down to 10%," said ISC2 official Elise Yacobellis. "We have a huge workforce shortage. If we brought more women into this field, I believe that gap would lessen."

The tech industry has been under fire for its lack of diversity in the workforce in recent months. Alleged unfair employment practices have become a hot button issue, as workforce composition disclosures by tech companies have shown low percentages of women in technical roles.