Did you know that 95% of IT decision-makers believe that the cloud skills gap has negatively impacted their team? To make matters worse, it is projected that by 2030, over 85 million roles could remain unfilled due to a lack of skilled individuals.
These figures are not new, as the skills shortage has been a problem for the past 15 years. The rapid growth of cloud technologies and the resurgence of AI have exacerbated the situation for several reasons:
- The rapid evolution of cloud technologies has outpaced the workforce’s ability to acquire necessary skills.
- Cloud computing skills are in high demand, surpassing the available supply.
- Traditional learning methods do not adequately prepare individuals with the diverse skills needed for cloud computing.
- The increasing interest in AI has led many to deploy AI systems on cloud computing platforms.
Is there a solution?
While this poses a challenge for many IT organizations, it is not an insurmountable problem. The key is to plan ahead of time instead of reacting to immediate needs. Enterprises that fail to plan often end up hiring lower-quality workers who make mistakes, ultimately reducing the value of cloud computing deployments.
IT leadership, in collaboration with HR, must be innovative in upskilling and hiring practices. Staying current with the latest developments is essential to bridge the knowledge gap, and companies must plan ahead to ensure adequate training and hiring resources.
Automation can help alleviate the burden on IT staff and reduce the need for specialized skills, but it should be used to enhance existing tasks rather than replace skilled workers. By investing in training, hiring ahead of need, and upskilling non-productive resources, organizations can overcome the skills shortage.
What’s next?
Successful enterprises are investing in solving the skills shortage problem by spending on training, recruiting junior-level workers, finding mentors, and investing in executives who understand these challenges. Boards and C-level executives must shift their focus from utilization numbers to prioritizing skill acquisition to avoid falling behind and lacking innovation.
Companies that neglect skill acquisition will struggle to keep up and face a lack of innovation. It is crucial to prioritize acquiring the necessary skills to thrive in the evolving IT landscape.
Copyright © 2024 IDG Communications, Inc.
