In the underbelly of the internet, a parallel job market is thriving, drawing in tech-savvy young professionals disillusioned by mainstream employment woes. As traditional tech jobs stagnate amid global layoffs, the dark web’s underground forums are buzzing with opportunities that promise quick riches, albeit in the shadows of illegality. A recent report from cybersecurity firm Kaspersky highlights this alarming trend, revealing a twofold increase in resumes and job postings on these hidden platforms from early 2023 to 2025.

The allure is particularly strong for those hit hardest by the tech industry’s contraction. With companies like Google, Amazon, and Meta slashing thousands of positions, many skilled workers find themselves adrift. ‘Global layoffs and rising cost of living drives young people to the dark web,’ notes a report from TechRadar, emphasizing how economic pressures are pushing talent toward cybercrime ecosystems.

This shift isn’t just anecdotal; data backs it up. Kaspersky’s ‘Inside the dark web job market: Their talent, our threat’ report, as detailed in sources like Arqam News, shows that the median age of job seekers on these forums is just 24, with resumes outnumbering vacancies—a stark contrast to the oversaturated legitimate job market.

The Youthful Surge into Underground Economies

Teenagers and young adults, often fresh out of coding bootcamps or university programs, are increasingly viewing the dark web as a viable career path. Posts on X (formerly Twitter) from users like Roberto Cosentino warn that ‘55% of candidates under 24’ are flocking to roles ranging from ethical hacking to outright illegal activities, urging parents to guide youth toward legitimate tech paths.

According to Arabian Business, this demographic includes laid-off workers and elite talent, fueled by a surge in postings that remained elevated into Q1 2025. The report underscores how economic instability, including rising living costs, makes these illicit gigs appealing, offering remote work and high payouts without the bureaucracy of corporate hiring.

Industry insiders point to the skills mismatch in the legitimate sector. While cybersecurity jobs are booming—with over 500,000 openings in the U.S. alone, as per X posts citing CyberSeek data—the dark web capitalizes on this by recruiting for roles like programmers and social engineers, often with perks like paid vacation, as analyzed in a 2023 Kaspersky study shared on X by vx-underground.

From Legit Layoffs to Illicit Listings

The tech sector’s volatility has created a perfect storm. ‘As tech jobs stall, new research claims the dark web job market is growing more attractive,’ states TechRadar, linking the phenomenon to widespread redundancies. In 2024 and 2025, forums saw a doubling of activity, with AI experts and hackers in high demand, per Security Boulevard.

Real-world examples abound. Laid-off engineers from Silicon Valley giants are reportedly posting resumes on these platforms, seeking roles in ransomware development or data theft operations. ‘There was a two-fold increase in the number of résumés and jobs posted on underground forums in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023, and this number remained on the same level in Q1 2025,’ reports IT-Online.

This growth mirrors broader trends in technology employment. While legitimate sectors project roles in cloud security and penetration testing to grow, with salaries exceeding $120,000 as per X posts from James Cao, the dark web offers anonymity and immediate income, albeit with severe legal risks.

Skills in Demand: The Dark Side of Tech Expertise

Cybercriminal organizations are professionalizing their recruitment, mimicking corporate structures. ‘Cybercriminal forums are experiencing a recruitment boom, with dark-web job postings for hackers, AI experts and social engineers doubling,’ explains Security Boulevard, drawing from Kaspersky’s findings.

Key skills sought include programming (61% of ads from 2020-2022, per vx-underground’s X analysis), penetration testing, and even AI development for advanced scams. Recent news from PureVPN indicates that dark web markets in 2025 are evolving with crypto trends and global usage spikes, further boosting job opportunities in illicit tech.

Contrast this with mainstream trends: The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, as covered in Times of India, predicts 78 million new roles by 2030, but also 92 million displacements, pushing more toward shadow economies.

Risks and Ramifications for the Industry

The implications for cybersecurity are profound. As talent drains into the dark web, legitimate firms face heightened threats from insiders turned adversaries. ‘I WILL NOT STOP until EVERYONE who WANTS a Cybersecurity Career has one,’ proclaims BowTiedCyber on X, highlighting the 3.4 million global openings, yet underscoring the competition from illicit paths.

Governments and companies are responding with initiatives to bridge the gap. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, cited in X posts by Travis Hubbard, forecasts 35% growth in cybersecurity jobs through 2031, far outpacing average occupations.

However, the dark web’s pull persists. ‘U.S. has almost 500,000 job openings in cybersecurity,’ noted Kanika Tolver on X back in 2021, a figure that has only grown, yet not fast enough to absorb all talent, leaving many vulnerable to underground temptations.

Navigating the Ethical Crossroads

For industry leaders, the challenge is to make legitimate paths more accessible. X user Mike Miller lists high-demand security jobs like offensive security and penetration testing, emphasizing the need for businesses to prioritize vulnerability assessments.

Kaspersky’s ongoing research, as in their 2023 blog on dark web recruiting, reveals how these markets operate like shadow IT economies, offering remote work and benefits to attract top talent.

Ultimately, addressing root causes like economic inequality and job market saturation could stem the tide. As Ramanuj Mukherjee notes on X, the cybersecurity talent crunch persists globally, with over 514,000 U.S. listings in the past year, signaling opportunities that must be seized before the shadows claim more minds.

Forecasting the Future Shadow Workforce

Looking ahead, the dark web intelligence market itself is booming, projected to reach $5.2 billion by 2033 at a 16.2% CAGR, per OpenPR. This growth underscores the need for proactive monitoring.

Trends from JobsPikr highlight sought-after skills in AI and cloud tech for 2025, areas where dark web recruiters are also poaching.

Recent X posts, like those from TechPulse Daily, echo TechRadar’s sentiment: ‘As tech jobs stall, new research claims the dark web job market is growing more attractive,’ pointing to a sustained trend that demands industry vigilance and innovation to redirect talent toward ethical pursuits.