September 22, 2021
September 22, 2021
The Linux Foundation - the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, and edX - an American massive open online course provider created by Harvard and MIT, have released the 2021 Open Source Jobs Report, examining the demand for open source talent and trends among open source professionals.
Hiring is rebounding in the wake of the pandemic, as organizations look to continue their digital transformation activities. This is evidenced by 50% of employers surveyed who stated they are increasing hires this year. There are significant challenges though, with 92% of managers reporting difficulty finding enough talent, as they also struggle to hold onto existing talent in the face of fierce competition. Furthermore, the rapid adoption of open source software is widening the skills gap in the market. This is especially true for cloud native application development and operations skills, topping the list of 46% of hiring managers.
"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."
"This year's report makes it clear that COVID-19 has only exacerbated skills gaps and hiring needs that were bubbling to the surface pre-pandemic, especially in the high technology sector," said Johannes Heinlein, Chief Commercial Officer and SVP of Strategic Partnerships at edX. "It's promising to see in our findings that employers are meeting these needs by increasing training and learning opportunities. We need to empower organizations to invest in this type of training in order to meet the tech talent demands of today, and tomorrow."
The ninth annual Open Source Jobs Report examines trends in open source careers, which skills are most in-demand, the motivation for open source professionals, and how employers attract and retain qualified talent. Key findings from the 2021 Open Source Jobs Report include:
This year's report features analysis of data from more than 200 hiring managers at corporations, small and medium businesses (SMBs), government organizations, and staffing agencies across the globe, as well as responses from more than 750 open source professionals worldwide.
The full 2021 Open Source Jobs Report is available to download here for free.