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 1,010 hiring managers and 3,446 Linux professionals and provides an overview of the state of the market for Linux careers and what motivates professionals in this industry. Check out the latest Linux-related jobs. 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.” The 2015 Linux Jobs Report also includes data about why employers are seeking Linux talent now and what the top incentives are for Linux pros, among other important findings. You can download the complete report from the Linux Foundation's website (PDF).

The 2015 Linux Jobs Report Methodology

During December 2014, Dice and the Linux Foundation surveyed both hiring managers and Linux professionals about their Linux jobs needs and preferences. Hiring managers from corporations, small and medium businesses (SMBs), government organizations, and staffing agencies were surveyed. More than 1,000 responded, with 66.9 percent indicating their company was headquartered in North America, 13.3 percent in Europe, 6 percent in Asia, 3.8 percent in South America, 1.9 percent in Africa, 2 percent in Mexico and Central America, 0.2 percent in Japan, 1.6 percent in the Middle East, and less than 1 percent in Australia/New Zealand. Respondents needed to have hired at least one Linux professional in the last year, or have plans to hire Linux professionals in 2015 to participate in the survey, and they were allowed to check as many responses to questions as appropriate. In addition, more than 3,400 Linux professionals responded to a survey, with 27 percent indicating they’ve been working as a Linux professional for 10 years or more.

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