Recent studies suggest a potential link between rising unemployment and increased activity on the dark web. According to these findings, as financial pressures grow, some individuals, ranging from young adults to experienced professionals, may turn to underground marketplaces, offering skills, access, and services that could be used by cybercriminal networks. While the research does not establish a definitive cause, it highlights a possible connection between economic instability and the expansion of talent available for illicit online operations.
The Studies
The findings from Accenture and Kaspersky point to a shared trend: rising unemployment appears to be contributing to more activity on the dark web, though each study emphasizes a different aspect. Accenture focuses on insiders who sell access and credentials from within organizations, while Kaspersky highlights individuals treating the dark web as a form of employment, offering technical skills or participating in organized cybercrime roles. Together, the studies suggest that economic pressures may be expanding the pool of talent available for illicit online activity, whether through insider opportunities or structured underground work.
Darknet Employment
Kaspersky’s research reveals a growing underground job market where economic pressures and global layoffs are driving individuals, particularly younger candidates, to the dark web in search of work. Between 2023 and 2025, the number of resumes and job postings on dark web forums doubled, with resumes outnumbering vacancies, reflecting high demand for opportunity and a willingness among job seekers to take on any role, from programming to cybercrime operations. The median age of applicants was just 24, with a notable presence of teenagers, highlighting how the shadow labor market is attracting a broad demographic.
The jobs themselves are largely related to cybercrime, including roles such as developers, penetration testers, money launderers, carders, and traffers, each offering varied compensation based on skill and impact. While some positions mirror legitimate IT roles, the underground market operates with far fewer barriers, delivering opportunities quickly and without formal interviews, but with serious legal and reputational risks. Kaspersky’s findings suggest that the dark web is increasingly functioning as an unofficial-employment platform, providing a channel for those affected by unemployment to monetize skills or participate in illicit operations, underscoring the growing intersection of economic instability and cybercrime.
Selling Insider Information
Accenture’s report shows a sharp rise in employees using the dark web to sell company secrets, logins, and access to sensitive systems. In 2025, insiders offering access jumped 69% from 2024, while criminals recruiting insiders grew 127% since 2022. The most valuable targets are initial access and credentials, making up about 30% of insider activity. While finance, crypto, and government sectors have long been targeted, industries like manufacturing, logistics, and pharmaceuticals are now increasingly affected.
Economic pressures, such as layoffs and the cost-of-living crisis, are driving some employees to take these risks. Accenture stresses that companies need strong protections at every stage of employment, including careful hiring, monitoring during employment, and immediate revocation of access when someone leaves. The research suggests that cybercriminals see insiders as the quickest way to break into systems, making proactive safeguards and employee engagement essential.
Conclusion
Rising unemployment and financial pressures are pushing some people to explore the dark web, whether as a way to find work or to make use of skills and access they already have. Young workers, recently laid-off professionals, and even teenagers are turning to these underground markets out of necessity, seeking opportunities where the traditional job market may not provide them. These trends show how economic hardship can lead people to take unconventional paths, highlighting the importance of support, guidance, and alternative opportunities that help individuals use their talents safely and productively.
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