How cloud computing is changing job descriptions

According to WANTED Analytics, there are 3.9 million jobs in the U.S. affiliated with cloud computing with 384,478 in IT alone.  The median salary for IT professionals with cloud computing experience is $90,950 and the median salary for positions that pay over $100,000 a year is $116,950.

Cloud services are creating very large business opportunities and hundreds of thousands of new jobs. Just as cloud computing is a game-changer for many companies it is also changing the nature of jobs, not only within the IT department, but in other parts of the enterprise as well.

For senior-level executives, especially chief information officers, the changes reflect the more strategic role IT plays in the direction of businesses. A majority of 685 CIOs surveyed (54%) believe that cloud computing has enabled them to spend more time on business strategy and innovation. Approximately 71% who have adopted cloud computing see their position as  a viable path to pursue other management roles, compared to only 44% of non-cloud adopting CIOs.

As a result of the shift to the cloud, there is also a growing demand for professionals and managers that are more focused on business development than they are in application development. There will be greater opportunities for enterprise architects, and some branches will include cloud architects, cloud capacity planners, cloud service managers and business solutions consultants. The jobs that are being created may not always bear the term “cloud” in their titles, but cloud will form the core of their job descriptions.

At the same time, software engineers appear to be in a good spot as a result of the growth of cloud.  A propagation of companies making applications for smartphones and tablets, along with the push to develop cloud software hosted entirely online, has made the job market for software engineers broader and more diverse.

In terms of skills, Structured Query Language (SQL), Java, overall software development skills, Linux, JavaScript and experience with software quality assurance are the top five most in-demand skills for IT cloud computing professionals. Moreover, Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information, Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Information Systems Security professional, and Cisco Certified Network Associate are among the most in-demand cloud computing certifications today.

Globally there are 18,239,258 cloud computing jobs, and as of December 12, the Hiring Scale is 79 for IT jobs that require cloud computing skills with 9 candidates per job opening. The higher the Hiring Scale score, the more difficult it is for employers to find the right applicants for open positions.

Your turn now! How are you adapting your job for the cloud? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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