[Report] Cloud Skills Crisis: How To Hire And Train Employees To Stay Relevant In A Digital World

How Do You Move Faster Than Silicon Valley? 

Analyst firm IDC’s Worldwide CIO Agenda 2019 Predictions show that 30% of technology job openings for hot skills (like cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence) will remain vacant through 2022. Similarly, Gartner finds that only 20% of employees have the necessary skills and expertise to drive success in digital transformation initiatives. And, the reality is that most enterprises today will need to compete with either Silicon Valley giants or well-funded startups for attracting the best technology talent.

Today there are 50,248 open cloud computing positions in the U.S. alone from 3,701 employers. Cloud is no longer coming. It’s here and the newly released OpsRamp survey proves that the modern enterprise isn’t prepared to manage a cloud-native world.

How do IT organizations hire, develop, and retain the right talent to lead in a world of digital disruption? The OpsRamp Cloud Skills Crisis report shares how enterprises are sourcing and building talent to manage hybrid cloud infrastructure, cloud-native services, and DevOps workflows. We surveyed 120+ IT leaders in US-based organizations with five hundred or more employees to understand the causes and effects of the skills gap, including:

• What specific cloud skills are most in-demand?
• How long does it take to find qualified talent?
• How are IT leaders reskilling their existing team for a digitally enabled world?
• Which tools and service providers are helping IT organizations bridge the skills gap?

Here are three insights from our report that showcase the challenges and solutions to the cloud skills crisis:

#1 - Cloud Is Here, In A Big Way

60% of IT decision makers indicate that a majority of their current applications are being either built or run in the cloud, from the smallest services to the most mission-critical workloads. With the increased adoption of hybrid cloud and software-defined infrastructures, IT teams will need the right talent to maintain dynamic, flexible and cost-effective digital services.

#2 - Competition For The Right Talent Is Fierce

Companies are more willing than ever to compete (pay) for top talent. A majority of IT leaders indicate they're "willing" or "very willing" to pay more for skilled professionals. The reason enterprises are paying top dollar for new digital talent and skills (as well as helping existing staff build cloud skills) is to meet and exceed customer expectations.

#3 - Companies Are Investing In New Skills Development

IT leaders see a huge opportunity in working with their existing IT employees for growth and transformation. Over a third of enterprises plan to invest in training and development programs for enhancing cloud and digital business skills. Organizations like AT&T, Accenture and FINRA are partnering with leading universities to train their workforces on the most in-demand skills.

There’s much more in our 18-page report, including the specific cloud skills most needed by enterprises, how long it takes to hire talent, and how managed services providers are helping bridge the cloud skills gap. Download the report today to understand how digital transformation is affecting IT workforce planning.

Next Steps:

• Meet us at Gartner IOCS, and see our hybrid digital operations command center.
• Learn about OpsQ, our artificial intelligence engine for modern IT event management.
• Schedule a custom demo with an OpsRamp solution expert.