The technology industry has always faced the challenge of effectively staffing skilled professionals. This is especially true among data center operators.
According to the 2023 Uptime Institute Global Data Center Survey, the data center industry has suffered from a persistent talent shortage for more than a decade. Continuing struggles to attract and retain skilled professionals is nothing new, but as data centers scale to accommodate increasing workloads, the need for skilled professionals increases. sexuality is increasing.
So how can data center operators address talent shortages while maintaining uptime, controlling costs, and meeting growing ESG reporting requirements? Let's look at the main factors.
Factors contributing to data center talent shortages
- Rapid increase in capacity: The growing demand for data center services has led to a surge in job opportunities. As data centers expand to accommodate increasing workloads, the need for skilled professionals increases. This trend shows no signs of slowing down. According to McKinsey analysis, demand in the US market alone is expected to reach 35 GW by 2030, up from 17 GW in 2022.
- Role complexity: Data center operations are becoming more complex, especially with the integration of sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs. Technical, executive, and sales roles require diverse and unique skill sets, making it difficult to find candidates with the right expertise. Many data center managers are particularly concerned about having trained control and monitoring staff. This is because demand for these roles is predicted to exceed his 165,000 full-time equivalents by 2025, an increase of more than 4% compared to just four years ago.
- Competition between companies: In competitive industries, companies often face talent retention challenges. This is especially true in the data center community, where operators often try to attract skilled employees from competing companies. The loss of experienced staff adds to the difficulties organizations face in finding qualified professionals to fill key positions.
- Request an ESG report: ESG reporting is rapidly evolving with new proposals from the EU, US, and International Sustainability Standards Boards. The EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is a major concern and will impact 10,000 companies worldwide from January 2024. The growing importance of ESG reporting has made data center operations even more complex. Achieving sustainability goals and complying with reporting requirements requires specialized skills, leading to talent shortages.
Bridging the talent gap with software
Many companies and organizations are stepping up to offer training programs to educate young professionals about this dynamic and lucrative industry. But in the meantime, what should data center operators do? Especially as their role becomes increasingly complex and ESG reporting takes center stage.
Savvy data center owners and operators know that software plays a key role in staying ahead of the curve when it comes to talent shortages. Innovative tools such as automation, machine learning, and AI also help data center managers manage the nuances of keeping data centers secure, inexpensive, and sustainable. Software not only improves operational efficiency, but is also a strategic resource that helps offset costs affected by today's talent shortages.
Scale with demand
Optimization software allows your data center to seamlessly scale as workloads increase. The software takes care of heat, power, and capacity management, reducing the burden on operations teams and allowing them to handle large facilities without the need for additional staffing.
One example is AI-driven thermal optimization software that provides data center managers with valuable insights into potential capacity constraints and thermal risks. By taking a proactive approach, the software enables strategic resource allocation planning, allowing existing teams to accommodate growth while maintaining operational efficiency. These solutions serve as valuable allies in overcoming the challenges associated with data center expansion.
simplify complexity
As data center operations become more complex, it becomes increasingly difficult for administrators to find qualified professionals to play key roles. Some software platforms address this issue through user-friendly interfaces that allow staff members with varying levels of technical expertise to control, monitor, and We make tasks such as reports easy to understand.
Software can also help reduce the burden on professional staff by enabling efficient collaboration between technical, executive, and sales roles. Additionally, team members with diverse skills can actively contribute to decision-making, allowing for a more flexible and responsive approach to changing operational needs. This collaboration improves the overall efficiency and effectiveness of data center operations.
Dealing with competition between companies
To attract and retain skilled professionals, data center operators are incorporating cutting-edge technology into their operations. This initiative not only attracts top talent but also helps retain skilled professionals.
Recognizing that supported employees with manageable workloads are more likely to stay, data center operators have prioritized operational efficiency and task automation. This increases job satisfaction, which in turn increases staff retention. A commitment to professional development is also key to retaining talent. Additionally, a software platform that facilitates continuous training and upskilling demonstrates your investment in employee development and fosters loyalty and long-term retention.
Streamline ESG reporting
ESG reporting can be manual and tedious, leading to employee burnout. However, software solutions are available that automate the reporting process. This automation is especially useful when companies lack control and monitoring expertise.
Automating ESG reporting allows your team to focus on strategic initiatives while ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. This not only improves operational efficiency but also addresses the challenges associated with the lack of trained staff. Additionally, optimizing data center operations for sustainability through ESG reporting software creates a sense of purpose within your organization and increases employee engagement and loyalty.
Leverage software solutions
It is clear that the data center industry is in high demand for skilled professionals. Software solutions play a key role in addressing this talent shortage and ensuring data center operations are resilient and sustainable.
By strategically deploying software, data center operators can effectively address talent shortages. Through software, data center teams can simplify their operations and increase efficiency. This not only reduces costs but also allows operators to optimize performance and uptime. That's not to say that software can replace human intelligence. In fact, the strategic combination of a well-managed AI-driven software platform and well-trained team members enables the former to help team members do their jobs better and faster. is key to maintaining a presence in a growing industry. .
steve lewis Vice President of U.S. Sales and currently at the top Eco sense As we continue to expand globally, in North America as well. Based in Lincoln, Nebraska, Steve brings over 20 years of experience in data center and IT channel sales to his EkkoSense.