Companies are desperately seeking Linux talent, according to report

PC World - Here's even more good news for IT professionals with Linux skills. Last month, we got word from IT careers site Dice that salaries in Linux jobs are going up, and on Wednesday the Linux Foundation and Dice jointly presented a report of more promising findings.

"The 2013 Linux Jobs Report shows that there is unlimited opportunity for college graduates and technology professionals who want to pursue careers in Linux," said Amanda McPherson, vice president of marketing and developer programs at the Linux Foundation.

The report includes fresh data collected last month from 850 hiring managers and 2600 Linux professionals. The infographic below presents an overview, but here's a quick breakdown of some of the key findings.

1. Even more hiring plans

Whereas last year's report found that a full 89% of hiring managers were planning to hire a Linux professional in the next six months, this year's data looked even better for Linux pros. Specifically, 93% of hiring managers now say they hope to hire a Linux professional in the next six months, according to this year's report.

2. An elusive skill set

Perhaps even more telling than hiring managers' plans is how difficult they say it is to fulfill them. Nine out of 10 such managers now say that finding Linux talent is difficult, compared with eight out of 10 last year.

3. Recruiters are on the hunt

A full 75% of Linux professionals responding to this year's survey said they have received at least one call from a recruiter in the last six months. "These professionals are being pursued by employers offering above average salaries and bonuses," notes the Linux Foundation, citing Dice's recent salary survey.

4. Sysadmins top the list

Last but certainly not least, the 2013 Linux Jobs Report found that systems administrators are the most sought-after Linux professionals -- a trend it attributes to the growth of Linux in the enterprise for cloud computing and big data. Also high on the list were developers and DevOps pros.

"The improvement in hiring intent from last year's sky high levels shows that Linux professionals are in a job market of their own," concluded Alice Hill, managing director of Dice.com and president of Dice Labs. "For Linux professionals, the trend is your friend -- make sure you are taking advantage of this market's career opportunities."

You can download the report from the Linux Foundation site or from Dice.com.