Demand for cloud computing skills continues to outpace supply

Despite growth in adoption, a cloud skills gap still exists. Now, firms hunt for candidates with more specialized skills related to public cloud and open source platforms. As enterprises continue to adopt cloud technology, the looming IT skills gap, particularly around public cloud,poses an ongoing challenge."Many firms are having trouble finding qualified individuals for their cloud projects," said James Stanger, senior director, product development, for CompTIA.While demand for IT pros with generic cloud computing skills continues to be high, those with specific experience in public cloud and open source platforms, such as Cloud Foundry, are especially coveted. At 24%, cloud is the second biggest driver of demand for technology skills -- right behind digital marketing skills at 25% -- according to a survey by Robert Half Technology, an IT staffing firm. "Cloud projects are near the top of CIOs' priority lists," said John Reed, senior executive director at the company.