By Jim Kalogiros, Vice President, Secure Power at Schneider Electric Canada
I recently ran across a LinkedIn job post for a “mainframe assembly language programmer.” What intrigued me was not the walk down memory lane of mainframes’ heydaybut the fact that finding a person to fill this position is akin to finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. Well-skilled and expert mainframe programmers are now pretty much retired as mainframes have largely evaporated in the cloud. I wish the job poster much luck in finding a strong candidate.
Unfortunately, data centre operators are facing the same challenge on a large scale: a dearth of skilled candidates for key positions such as electrical and mechanical engineers. The problem is growing more acute as data centres themselves are transforming to support AI workloads. In fact, “Nearly six out of 10 operators are having trouble finding qualified candidates for open jobs, while more than half find it difficult to retain people.” In Canada, 60% of electrical engineers are entering the job market straight from university, so senior-level experts are especially in demand.
I sympathize with anyone managing this talent scarcity. Since many of the same skillsets are highly sought beyond data centres (e.g, by tech giants such as NVIDIA or Google), poaching is a known issue even if a data centre does land a great employee. I know pointing out how bad the problem is like salting a wound, but let’s take stock of the conditions at play. Here is a snapshot from the Uptime Institute:
So, what can we do about these known challenges? I see three immediate ways to take action.
1. Invest in Corporate Partnerships for Skills Development
AI is expanding the skillsets needed to run data centres purpose-built for high-density, AI-capable environments. Certainly data centres do not need data scientists per se, but they do need employees who understand “how AI workloads operate, the types of data they process, and their infrastructure needs,” as HCLTech’s Daniel Stillman points out. Experts in liquid cooling, an innovative way to manage higher heat output from AI loads, will grow in demand, as well as the need for advanced security experts. Not to mention that data centres always need electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and more to support the backbone of Canada’s digital economy.
Given this growing demand, the industry cannot rely solely on educational institutions to bridge the wide skills gap. Corporate investment in partnership with municipal and provincial stakeholders is essential. Microsoft understands the need, for example, stating that, “New economic opportunities fueled by digital transformation and advancements in AI cannot be realized without a robust skilled workforce in place.” Accordingly, Microsoft is investing in skills training alongside its data centre build in Quebec.
Schneider Electric also works with data centre industry stakeholders to boost relevant, in-demand skills for today’sdata centre landscape, offering certification opportunitiesto develop qualified personnel: Data Centre Certified Associate (DCCA) and Professional Energy Manager (PEM).
2. Combine Training for Data Centre and Sustainability Expertise
Not only are the technical skills requirements quickly changing due to AI and technological advancements, but the intersection and growing importance of sustainability and energy efficiency are redefining infrastructure requirements. As an industry, we must boost skills development not just for data centres of today but for data centres of tomorrow — that is, sustainable, energy-efficient data centres that meet the demands of both the digital economy and climate imperatives.
The future is bright in this regard when you consider that value-driven jobs with societal impact are even more important for early-career candidates as they are placing greater emphasis on purpose. Deloitte has indicated, for instance, that 27% of survey respondents “said they will consider a potential employer’s position on sustainability before accepting a job.”
There is an opportunity for combining data centre skills through the lens of sustainability initiatives related to energy management. This approach is crucial given the fast-escalating power demands brought on by AI loads. The growing need for more and more compute power is expected to raise data centre power demand by 160% by 2030. Data centre skills and energy management must go hand in hand.
3. Grow Skills Through Re-skilling and Upskilling
The growing demand for sustainable data center design and operations is driving the ongoing need for specialized certifications. A promising way to bridge the gap includes re-skilling and upskilling non-IT professionals involved in various aspects of data centre operations, including design and build, cooling and power systems, systems integration, and process automation. The aim is to provide relevant education and support for sustainable data centres of the future, fostering collaboration and meeting the industry’s evolving needs.
Certified professionals, such as those certified under theSchneider Electric EcoXpert program, gain a myriad of advantages, with heightened expertise in a variety of areas including building and residential automation, power distribution and management, grid, and new energy landscapes. With the advent of AI, cloud, edge and IoT the traditional approach to operating data centers has been transformed. Embracing the opportunity to acquire expertise in advanced technologies, such as cloud computing, not only contributes to breaking down traditional constraints but also propels the career trajectory of data center professionals.
Training and certification programs like these can betailored to meet the specific needs of the Canadian market, offering targeted education and professional development opportunities. By fostering knowledge and collaboration, these skills development approaches aim to address the evolving demands of this dynamic sector, ultimately contributing to its continued advancement while strengthening the resilience of data centres of the future.
