FEATURE FEATURE
The data centre industry continues to face difficulties when it comes to addressing the talent shortage which is only set to widen . Sarah Parks , Director of Marketing & Communications at CNet Training , discusses how the challenges can be addressed effectively by tackling the longer-term issue of creating awareness of the data centre sector to the younger generation and establishing it as a rewarding career option to avoid contributing to the ongoing skills crisis .
Plugging the gap in digital infrastructure and the skills required
The unprecedented effects of the pandemic has seen huge changes within the digital infrastructure industry over the last two years , with data centres suddenly even more in demand to support the critical infrastructure and communications for everyday business and social life .
This demand has been met and this has been achieved against a backdrop that the digital infrastructure industry has been looking at head-on for a considerable time : the skills shortage .
The number of staff needed to run the world ’ s data centres will grow from around 2 million to nearly 2.3 million by 2025 , according to Uptime Institute Intelligence . A 2020 report stated that over half of data centre operators were experiencing difficulties in terms of recruiting staff – a sharp increase from 2018 , when only 38 % saw it as an issue .
Yet , research suggests that the data centre sector is dissuading potential candidates by setting the bar to entry too high , often asking for experience of working within the data centre environment when there just isn ’ t enough experience out there .
There seems to be a disconnect within the sector which has certainly contributed to the ongoing skills crisis .
Part of the problem is that the sector is still ‘ invisible ’ to people as they are unaware of just how much they rely on digital services and the opportunities available within the sector for amazing careers . ‘ There is a huge lack of awareness of the sector , which is growing at an astronomical rate ’, the report states . ‘ It shows no sign of slowing down and it needs people . People don ’ t know the sector is there and don ’ t consider it as a career ’.
With businesses struggling to find the right people for the right jobs , a degree of creative thinking can help in solving part of the problem . Data centre operators have been targeting www . intelligentdatacentres . com
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