Demand for Data Engineers has continued to outgrow the supply since around 2016. The post-COVID-19 pandemic era has consequently seen a chronic shortage of data engineering talent. In recent times, we have seen an increase in demand to hire remote data engineers globally, and this tech talent shortage improved during COVID-19 because of the adoption of remote work culture by the tech giants.

However, many organizations are still facing the challenge of finding data engineering talents with whom they can actualize their business goals and objectives. In this article, we look at the current reality of talent shortage in data engineering and suggest alternatives to solving the shortage.

Global Tech Talents Shortage is a Reality

The 2020 Global Knowledge survey reported that 67% of IT decision-makers believe skill gaps cost their employees between three and nine hours of work per week. Moreover, the talent shortage problem is set to be particularly prevalent in new and niche areas such as AI and Machine Learning, Data Engineering, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity, to name a few.

What we have seen in recent years is that many developed countries like the USA, UK, Germany, and Canada have begun visa programs that allow tech talents to migrate from some other part of the world, majorly Africa and Asia. Companies in those countries also allow tech talents to work remotely, while others provide visa processing for intending relocated talents. Many talent outsourcing start-ups have sprung up to focus on remote job opportunities and migration programs for data talents in recent years.

However, data engineering still needs to fill a considerable talent gap. According to the statistic, data engineering has been one of the fastest-growing fields in recent years, surpassing data science roles. Companies need a proper data infrastructure to perform meaningful data analysis after a massive influx of data scientists. Data Engineer job growth far outpaced other developer jobs in 2020.

Alternatives to Data Engineering Talents Shortage

Training of Talents: Training young and vibrant talents can come with a cost but can be a good investment in the future. A 2017 Forbes report showed less than 50,000 Computer Science graduates and over 500,000 open positions. A change of hiring mentality is required. We cannot stay and fold-out arms just talking. We need to act fast. Part of what we can do is to train talented young people and give them the right environment to gain experience and exposure.

• Internship Program: Big tech companies, including Google, Facebook, and Amazon, have internship programs that take interns from around the world. This allows young talents (interns) to work on live projects with a larger user base. Interns gain experience and exposure to develop their skills and secure entry-level jobs to begin their careers. Companies can do the same with data engineering talents to fill the shortage.
• Scholarships Program: Data science and data engineering scholarships can be given to talented young people in other parts of the world. Africans, in particular, have a lot of opportunities to gain skills, experience, and exposure leveraging recent opportunities to work and fill the talent gap in Europe and the USA. Giving them the right opportunities would be a win-win situation for the company and the talents.
• Working with Consultancy Companies: Many small and medium businesses with low budgets and other bigger businesses have leveraged the goodies of experienced consultancy companies. There are consultancy firms with the right modern skills that can ensure your data security in the cloud, conduct analysis, and make sense of your data to your taste. 

Our Pick

After carefully studying the alternatives, working with a consultancy agency can be more effective, especially for small and medium businesses. This is because your business will get access to qualified experts with several years of experience. One of the consultancy agencies that has successfully worked with other businesses is Data2Bots. Data2Bots is an IT consultancy company that builds secure and scalable data solutions, helping businesses make informed decisions off their data.

Conclusion

The talent shortage is accurate, not a myth. Many global companies now find it challenging to attract talents that will take their businesses to the next level. There are some solutions available to companies. But the constraint is that most solutions require a high starting budget. Working with consultancy firms has paid off for many businesses like Randstad, CZ Insurance, and Philips. You can also enjoy the service of consultancy firms like Data2bots and take your business to the next level with your big data. Data2Bots is conducting a 30 days free service covering consultation, data migration, and engineering. To enjoy, send an email to; info@data2bots.com.