A recent report from Linux Foundation and Dice revealed that many companies are desperately in need of more Linux-based workers. More than 93% of the surveyed organizations plan to hire professionals who have experience with the open-source operating system in the next 6 months.
The report polled more than 850 hiring managers from companies of all sizes worldwide, both in the private and public sectors. It also surveyed more than 2,700 Linux professionals all over the world.
Key findings from the report:
1) The demand for Linux professionals is rising, making recruitment difficult.
Almost all hiring managers in the study showed that they are planning to hire a Linux professional within the next six months. That corresponds to a 4% rise from the previous year's 89%.
More than this, close to 9/10 hiring managers say it was difficult to find Linux professionals who have the experience.
2) Linux professionals with experience have higher wages and better job opportunities than other IT professionals.
Because the demand is huge and the talents available are scarce, businesses and companies are willing to pay more for an experienced Linux professional.
The survey found that wages increased by 9% year over year in 2013, almost double the 5% rise in wage for all tech jobs.
More than that, even in an economic downturn, 3/4 Linux professionals get calls from at least one recruiter in the past 6 months, with 35% of them saying that they planned to transfer to another company in 2013.
More than higher wages and better job opportunities, however, experienced Linux professionals can also expect flexible work schedules and telecommuting, which both lead to better work and life balance.
3) Companies are mostly looking for systems administrators, developers, and DevOps who are skilled in Linux.
These three professionals are the top Linux jobs according to demand.
4) More and more businesses are using Linux, hence the need for experienced Linux professionals.
What would explain the enhanced demand for Linux professionals? Simple: A lot of businesses are expanding, and in doing so, they are either using Linux more in their operations, or they are migrating to Linux-based systems.
The Future
A little context can help further shed light on the significance of this study. The study was conducted by the Linux Foundation,
1) Systems Administrator
According to the latest data from the BLS, systems administrators made, on the average, close to $70,100 annually, with 9 out of every ten systems administrators working full time.
What is more, from 2011 to 2020, the number of jobs available for systems administrators is expected to increase by 27%, way faster than the average job growth for all occupations during the same period.
This means that while 347,200 IT professionals were working as network and computer systems administrators in 2011, that number is supposed to rise to 443,900 just ten years later.
2) Database Administrators
Database administrators have to know the basics of the underlying operating systems they are using, and this involves Linux.
Median pay for the 110,900 database administrators in 2010 was more than $73,700 annually.
Job prospects for database administrators are quite good, with the BLS forecasting that there will be 31% more jobs for database administrators in 2020, which means a job prospect of 144,750 DB admin jobs.
3) Software Developers
Half of the 913,200 software developers in the United States earned of more than $90,000 a year in 2010.
By 2020, it's expected that there would be close to 1.2 million software developers. This represents a 30% increase in a 10-year period.
Linux Certifications
So, how do you become a Linux pro?
Having the right education and the right job experience would help you land a Linux-based job. But if you need help in trying to persuade hiring managers that you have the skills necessary to work with Linux, a reputable certification program might give you an edge.
Here are some of the better known and more sought after Linux certifications available:
Linux Professional Institute certifications
The Linux Professional Institute offers three levels of professional certifications: LPIC 1, LPIC 2 and LPIC 3. The LPIC Level 1 is a junior-level certification that tests your knowledge of Linux command lines, configuration, and installation and
maintenance skills know-how.
The LPIC Level 2 proves your ability to administer a small- or medium-sized site and supervise other Linux professionals. You should also know how to plan, create, implement, secure and maintain mixed networks, as well as know which automation and other hardware tools to purchase.
The LPIC Level 3 is for senior-level Linux professionals and would test your skills in conceptualizing, installing and troubleshooting, as well as constructing LDAP software and other Linux systems.
Red Hat Certified Engineer
The Red Hat Certified Engineer would test your skills in using systems running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. You need to be a Red Hat Certified System Administrator to get this certification.
CompTIA Linux+
CompTIA has its own Linux certification geared towards junior-level Linux administrators. Its content is from the LPI, so receiving a CompTIA Linux+ certification allows you to become a LPIC 1 certified as well.
Novell Certified Linux Administrator
Novell Certified Linux Administrator (CLA) is also an entry-level certification that allows you to apply for a LPIC 1 and a CompTIA Linux+ certification if you pass the CLA, without having to pay for anything more or take additional certification exams.
After receiving your CLA, you can move on to become a Novell Certified Linux Engineer, which would test for more advanced skills in Linux.