Training and Certification Are Key to Open Source Jobs

As mentioned previously, open source skills are in high demand, with 92 percent of hiring managers reporting difficulty finding skilled talent, according to the recent 2021 Open Source Jobs Report from the Linux Foundation and edX. In this article, we’ll look at specific in-demand skills and other insights from the survey.

"Open source talent is in high demand, encouraging the most experienced pros to look for new opportunities while hiring managers battle it out for the most desirable candidates," said Linux Foundation Executive Director Jim Zemlin. "For those looking for the best career paths, it is evident that cloud native computing, DevOps, Linux, and security hold the most promising opportunities."

According to the survey, the technologies in highest demand by open source hiring managers are: 

  • Cloud/container technologies (41%)
  • Linux (32%)
  • Networking technologies (31%)
  • Security (28%)            
  • AI and machine learning (18%)
  • Storage technologies (17%) 
  • Edge computing (17%) 
  • Web technologies (16%)  

The top skills as ranked by developers are similar; however, 44 percent specifically mentioned the DevOps, GitOps, and DevSecOps group of skills. 

In addition to the skills listed above, hiring managers also placed emphasis on certification, with 72 percent responding that they are more likely to hire someone with a certification

According to the survey, this increased desire for certified talent is leading companies to sponsor employees’ certification efforts, with 88 percent of hiring managers reporting a willingness to pay for certifications.

The survey also asked open source developers what employers could do to help them become more successful in their existing roles, and the developers’ top responses were:

  • Sponsor training opportunities (66%)
  • Attend technical conferences and events (54%)

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