A shortage of experienced Linux professionals in the European market has caused a skills crisis for companies, according to the Linux Foundation.
Linux developers and system administrators are in short supply according to the Foundation's 2014 Linux Jobs Report.
The report found that 87 percent of European hiring managers have "hiring Linux talent" on their list of priorities for 2014, and almost half (48 percent) plan to increase their hires of Linux professionals over the next six months, as compared to the previous six months.
But 93 percent say they are having difficulty finding professionals with the Linux skills they require. Of those unable to fill open positions, 25 percent have delayed projects as a result.
According to the survey, developers and system administrators are the most sought after Linux professionals in Europe, with 69 percent and 51 percent of hiring managers, respectively, looking to fill these positions. These positions are followed by 32 percent of respondents looking to hire DevOps, and 19 percent management or IT managers.
Jim Zemlin, executive director at the Linux Foundation, said: "The survey results clearly show the future is bright for Linux professionals in Europe. However as the demand for talent grows, it also illustrates that hiring managers not only need to focus on bringing new talent onboard, but also retain and grow the skills of their current Linux workforce."
According to the report, seven out of ten Europe-based Linux professionals say they received calls where they were pitched new positions in the past six months, and 30 percent said there were more calls than in the previous six months. On top of this, one third of Linux professionals in Europe are intending to find new positions this year, with 58 percent saying they believed it would be "fairly or very easy".
Of those looking to move, remuneration is the biggest driving force, with 69 percent of Linux professionals saying an increased salary is influencing their decision, while 59 percent are motivated by the opportunity for greater work life balance, and 51 percent by additional training opportunities or certification.
In the past six months, 29 percent of Linux professionals say they have been offered a higher salary from their current employers, while 25 percent said they've been offered a flexible work schedule, and 20 percent have been offered additional training opportunities or certification.
The survey was based on responses from 180 European employers and 890 Linux professionals.
