2015 Linux Jobs Report

Linux Professionals in High Demand

NEW YORK, NY and SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Mar 4, 2015) - Recruiters are increasing efforts to hire Linux talent, according to the 2015 Linux Jobs Report, which forecasts the Linux job market based on a survey of hiring managers and Linux professionals. Hiring managers are also looking more to evidence of formal training and certifications to identify qualified prospects.

The 2015 Linux Jobs Report includes data from hiring managers (1,010) and Linux professionals (3,446) and provides an overview of the state of the market for Linux careers and what motivates professionals in this industry.

The purpose of this report is to inform the industry about the latest Linux job trends and how they impact the ability of professionals to find rewarding Linux job opportunities and for employers to attract and retain qualified talent. This is the fourth year in a row that the Linux Jobs Report has been produced by Dice, the leading career site for technology and engineering professionals, and The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the growth of Linux and collaborative development.

"Competition for Linux talent is accelerating, as the software becomes more ubiquitous," said Shravan Goli, President of Dice. "Hiring managers need to ensure they are offering the right set of incentives to attract talent, while professionals need to provide evidence of their knowledge and skills, especially in areas of growing demand such as the cloud."

Key statistics from the report include:

• Nearly all hiring managers are looking to recruit Linux professionals in the next six months. With new Linux-based systems, projects and products constantly emerging, hiring the right talent to support all the growth continues to be a priority amongst employers. Ninety-seven percent of hiring managers report they will bring on Linux talent relative to other skills areas in the next six months.
• The rise of open cloud platforms is creating even more demand for Linux professionals with the right expertise. Forty-two percent of hiring managers say that experience in OpenStack and CloudStack will have a major impact on their hiring decisions, while 23 percent report security is a sought-after area of expertise and 19 percent are looking for Linux talent with Software-Defined Networking (SDN) skills.
• Linux-certified professionals will be especially well positioned in the job market this year, with 44 percent of hiring managers saying they're more likely to hire a candidate with Linux certification, and 54 percent expecting either certification or formal training of their SysAdmin candidates.

"Demand for Linux talent continues apace, and it's becoming more important for employers to be able to verify candidates have the skillsets they need," said Jim Zemlin, executive director at The Linux Foundation. "Formal training and certifications are a key way of identifying qualified talent, and as more people join the Linux community, it will be increasingly necessary for professionals to show they stand out in the crowd."