In the fast-paced world of technology, cloud computing has emerged as a game-changer in the industry. It has dramatically changed the way businesses operate, enabling them to store, manage, and process data with greater efficiency and flexibility.

As companies continue to adopt cloud-based technologies, the demand for skilled professionals in this field has quickly escalated. Consequently, the cloud computing job market has become one of the most sought-after and lucrative career paths in the tech industry.

So, if you're looking to make a mark in this dynamic expanding field, the cloud computing job market offers an exciting and rewarding opportunity to shape the future of technology. This article aims to share some key information and useful insights about this increasingly growing job market.

The Cloud Computing Market and its main Providers

According to Gartner, the global cloud computing market is expected to reach a staggering $591.8 billion in 2023, up from $490.3 billion in 2022. A forecast to grow an impressive 20.7%, surpassing the 18.8% growth forecast for 2022.

With industry giants such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform leading the way, the market has experienced explosive growth in recent years.

Cloud platform and services vendors offer a range of solutions, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Now, let’s take a look at the actual top 5 biggest cloud providers in the world and some of their services and tools:

●  Amazon Web Services (AWS): Launched in 2002, AWS provides a wide range of cloud-based services, including computing power, storage, and databases, as well as application services, analytics, security, and more. AWS is recognised as the leader in the field, with a market share of 33%. Some of the most popular AWS services include Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3), Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS), and Amazon Lambda.

●  Microsoft Azure: Second market share in the globe (22%), Azure offers similar cloud-based service, such as enabling businesses to easily move their applications and workloads to the cloud. Some of the most popular Azure services include virtual machines, storage, databases, and app services such as Azure Functions and Logic Apps. Additionally, Azure offers a range of tools and services for developing and deploying AI and machine learning applications.

●  Google Cloud Platform (GCP): Our third place in the rank, with an 11% market share, GCP figures as a popular choice for businesses looking for a highly scalable and reliable infrastructure that can support their growing needs. Some of the most popular GCP services include Google Compute Engine (GCE), Google Cloud Storage, and Google Cloud SQL. Likewise, Google Cloud Machine Learning Engine and TensorFlow GCP are part of the platform’s portfolio when it comes to AI and Machine Learning Services.

●  Alibaba Cloud: Also known as Aliyun, Alibaba Cloud is a popular choice for businesses operating in China and Asia and currently holds a 5% market share. Some of the most popular Alibaba Cloud services include Elastic Compute Service (ECS), Object Storage Service (OSS), and Relational Database Service (RDS). Similar to its rivals, Alibaba Cloud provides various tools and services that aid in the creation and implementation of AI and machine learning apps. These include TensorFlow on Alibaba Cloud and Machine Learning Platform for AI.

●  IBM Cloud: 5th market share in the world (3%), IBM Cloud most popular services include virtual servers, object storage, databases, and Watson AI services. Additionally, IBM Cloud offers a range of tools and services for developing and deploying cloud-native applications, including IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service and IBM Cloud Functions.

Cloud Computing Jobs in Demand

As the demand for cloud-based services continues to surge, the cloud computing market presents a vast and exciting opportunity for businesses and job seekers alike. At present, cloud computing jobs are some of the most in-demand roles in the tech industry, offering exciting career opportunities for professionals at all levels.

From cloud architects and engineers to SRE engineers and DevOps engineers, there is a wide range of cloud computing jobs in demand, offering competitive salaries and attractive benefits.

Whether you are just starting your career in tech or looking to take the next step, a career in cloud computing can be both rewarding and fulfilling. Let’s now take a look at some opportunities in the field:

●  Cloud Architect: A Cloud Architect is responsible for designing, implementing, and constantly improving an organisation's cloud infrastructure to ensure it is scalable, secure, and efficient.

●  Cloud Engineer: The responsibilities of cloud engineers include building, deploying, and maintaining an organisation's cloud infrastructure. Typically, Cloud Engineers collaborate with Cloud Architects to deliver expert guidance on cloud implementation and management strategies.

●  Cloud Developer: The role of a Cloud Developer involves creating and implementing cloud-based applications and services that prioritise scalability, security, and reliability.

●  Cloud Consultant: A Cloud Consultant is responsible for advising clients on the best practices for implementing and managing cloud technologies to achieve their business goals.

●  Site Reliability Engineer: A site reliability engineer is an IT expert who uses automation tools to monitor and observe software reliability in the production environment.

The Learning Pathway for Cloud Computing Positions

Here are some key points about the educational pathway of cloud computing professionals:

●  A bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field is usually the minimum educational requirement for most cloud computing jobs.

● Many employers also prefer candidates with a master's degree in a relevant field, such as computer science, data science, or cloud computing.

● Cloud computing certifications, such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect, and Google Cloud Certified - Professional Cloud Architect, can also enhance your credentials and demonstrate your expertise to potential employers.

● Specific sets of skills, such as Salesforce and customer relationship management (CRM) cloud development; Programming languages; Security best practices and DevOps and agile best practices are also great options to stand out in the field.

Overall, the educational pathway for cloud computing professionals involves a combination of formal education, certification programs, and ongoing learning opportunities to keep up with the latest trends and technologies in the field.

The Latest Trends and Useful Insights

Watch out for Azure!

Although AWS is clearly the leader in the field with a 33% market share, Azure's market share grew by 2% in 2022, which is a significant achievement, especially considering the competition in the industry.

This suggests that more businesses and organisations are adopting cloud computing solutions and choosing Azure as their preferred platform, which in turn provides us with enough reasons to believe that holding Azure’s Certifications can expand your range of job opportunities.

Small and medium-sized businesses will keep moving to the cloud

According to AAG, during 2022, public clouds hosted the majority of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) workloads and data, accounting for 57% and 56% respectively. Moreover, there are plans to move an additional 6% of both workloads and data into the cloud within the next 12 months.

As a result, by 2023, it is expected that 63% of SMB workloads and 62% of SMB data will be hosted in the cloud. The message here is clear: The cloud market is growing! Cloud professionals should keep an eye on this trend and adjust their strategies accordingly to stay ahead of the competition.

Multiple cloud environments

Multi-cloud solutions are becoming increasingly popular: according to AAG, 89% of businesses are using multi-cloud solutions, suggesting that this is becoming the preferred approach for many organisations.

Cloud professionals should continue to educate themselves on how to effectively manage multiple cloud environments to meet the diverse needs of their customers.

Cloud Gaming Technologies

Investment in cloud gaming infrastructure is likely to increase: With projected growth to reach around $6.3 billion by 2024, cloud professionals should expect to see increased investment in cloud gaming infrastructure, including data centres, network infrastructure, and cloud gaming platforms. This could present opportunities for cloud professionals to provide services to cloud gaming companies and invest in cloud gaming technologies.

Increased budget for cloud spending

Cloud spend will continue to increase: With companies expected to dedicate 80% of their total IT budget to cloud spend by 2024, cloud professionals should prepare for continued growth in demand for cloud services. This presents opportunities for cloud professionals to offer innovative solutions and services that meet the evolving needs of their customers.

Finding great job opportunities in cloud computing

With all those riveting insights in mind, take advantage to visit Sparkyheads and check the latest and hottest job opportunities in the cloud computing job market. We offer a wide range of exciting IT job opportunities in the cloud space, with opportunities to work with cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions.