CENTENNIAL, Colo.—DHI Group, Inc. (NYSE: DHX) announced today that ClearanceJobs, its leading online community for security-cleared professionals in the defense and intelligence sectors, has reached 2 million registered candidates. The milestone reflects both the accelerating demand for cleared talent and the growing role of the platform, founded in 2002, at the center of the national security workforce.
While it took more than a decade for ClearanceJobs to reach its first 500,000 registered candidates, the most recent 500,000 were added in just over three years.1 The accelerated pace underscores the expanding pipeline of cleared professionals entering the platform and the increasing urgency with which employers are seeking trusted, vetted talent.
“Reaching 2 million candidates is a testament to the trust that cleared professionals place in ClearanceJobs as the home for their careers in national security,” said Alex Schildt, President of ClearanceJobs. “This milestone reflects a community that is more engaged and more diverse in experience than ever before.”
A More Engaged and Credentialed Community
Achievement of this 2 million candidate milestone comes alongside striking improvements in candidate profile quality and engagement. The percentage of candidates with an active resume has surged from under 5% among the platform’s earliest registrants to over 58% among the most recent cohort—a reflection of both platform improvements and a more proactive candidate base.
Higher level clearance holders now make up a significantly larger share of the platform’s profiled candidates. Secret clearance holders have grown from 1.2% of earliest datasets (2002-2013) to 28.4% according to the most recent metrics, while TS/SCI holders have expanded from 2.3% to 15.6% of the candidate pool. These trends signal that ClearanceJobs is increasingly reaching its core audience—the cleared professionals that defense and intelligence employers need most.
A Workforce Spanning All Career Stages
Early candidates on ClearanceJobs were dominated by senior-level professionals. Today, the candidate pool spans every experience level, with meaningful representation from mid-career, early-career, and entry-level professionals. Mid-level candidates (5+ years of experience) have grown from 0.5% of the first group to 17.7%, while entry-level candidates (under 2 years) now represent 6.0% of candidates (up from 0.03%). This broadening of experience signals that ClearanceJobs is now a primary destination for cleared talent at every career stage.
Military Affiliation on the Rise
Among candidates, those with military service have grown from 3.2% in the earliest cohort to 37.4% in the most recent. Army, Air Force, and Navy remain the top branches represented. This growth reflects the platform’s deepening connection with the military community and the increasing importance of veteran talent pipelines in the defense contracting and intelligence sectors.
“Two million candidates represent the power of a community built around service, mission, and opportunity,” said Art Zeile, CEO of DHI Group, Inc. “Every profile reflects a professional committed to supporting national security, and every connection made through ClearanceJobs helps strengthen the workforce behind some of our nation’s most important missions.”
Geographic Strength in Cleared Hubs
The geographic distribution of ClearanceJobs candidates has remained concentrated in the states most associated with cleared work. Virginia leads as the top state, followed by Texas, Maryland, California, and Florida. Virginia’s share has declined modestly over time, while Texas has grown steadily, reflecting the broader geographic diversification of the defense and intelligence industrial base.
ClearanceJobs – About Us
Founded in 2002, ClearanceJobs is a modern marketplace for career opportunities in national security. We maintain a strong commitment to connecting security-cleared professionals and employers in a secure and private platform to fill the jobs that safeguard our nation. Our protected career marketplace allows industry employers and candidates the ability to connect, converse, and exchange opportunities. From instant messaging to deep personal and company branding, ClearanceJobs balances participation by giving every user – both employers and candidates – a platform to share, explore, and engage. With offices in Colorado and Iowa, ClearanceJobs (a DHI Group, Inc. brand) is the largest service focused solely on professionals with U.S. federal government security clearances.
