Originally posted on Start Campus.
Data created, consumed, and stored has grown from 2 ZettaBytes (ZB) in 2010, 64 ZB in 2020 to more than 180 ZB expected in 2025. It’s safe to say that the digital infrastructure industry is facing immense growth. But the industry is also facing a global talent gap. Skilled resources are needed to help support and foster this explosive growth. As older generations age out of the industry (aka the gray tsunami), younger generations replace them. The conundrum is that there are not enough skilled people to accommodate growth and the gray tsunami at the same time.
This problem begs the question – who is skilled to do the jobs that the digital economy needs?
Data center jobs exist for every level of skill and many cross-functional areas of expertise. Apprenticeships and internships are being used as one avenue to fill vacancies, however, more work is needed to bring training and education to those who could adapt their experiences to fill required roles. College curricula have simply not maintained pace with demand. Further, many jobs in the industry do not require a formal university degree.
The digital economy needs data centers. These warehouse-sized facilities host the computing infrastructure that powers and drives data across the internet. The rising need for data centers has increased the need for skilled workers. According to Gartner, By 2025, “labor volatility” will cause 40% of organizations to report a material business loss, forcing a shift in talent strategy from acquisition to resilience. “The global data center market is challenged by a lack of available and qualified people. According to a study by Uptime Institute, global data center staff requirements are forecasted to grow by approximately 300,000 to 2.3 million people in 2025, up from 2 million in 2019.”[1] By 2025, there will be a need for 80,000 new data center staff in Europe alone. So, what should data centers do to mitigate this predictive trend?
To continue reading, please click here.
