Big Data Will Create 4.4 Million IT Jobs in Next Few Years, Gartner Predicts

Worldwide IT spending may surpass $3.7 trillion in 2013, creating millions of jobs around the world, according to research firm Gartner. As cloud computing becomes popular, big data is positioned to drive a big portion of the growth of new-generation IT services. The research firm predicts that as many as 4.4 million IT jobs will be created globally to support big data.

“Big data will generate 1.9 million IT jobs in the United States,” said Peter Sondergaard, senior vice president at Gartner and global head of Research. “In addition, every big data-related role in the U.S. will create employment for three people outside of IT, so over the next four years a total of 6 million jobs in the U.S. will be generated by the information economy.”

But there is a challenge. There is not enough talent in the global IT industry.

More information about this news on Nearshore Americas.

SHAMAN, a European project for Data Preservation

Digital information comes in myriad forms and formats, so how can we make sure that today's data is not lost forever in inaccessible legacy forms? An EU-funded project has developed a framework that ensures we will always be able to use data, however and wherever it is saved and stored.

A framework for development 

The EU-funded SHAMAN (1) project has developed a framework that makes 'digital preservation' (DP) a reality for virtually any data format. People will be able to store and archive digital objects and information in confidence, knowing that they will be fully accessible and useable in the future, whatever the future brings. 

Beyond the cloud 

The architecture also goes beyond simple cloud storage solutions. As Mr Riestra explains, 'the most important difference is the time frame: storage in the cloud is mainly for short term, while digital preservation is related to issues such as multiple migrations over time, hardware and mainly software obsolescence.' 

Prototype applications 

The SHAMAN project produced three prototype applications, designed to demonstrate the validity of the framework and to showcase some exemplary tools developed using the reference architecture.

More information about this EU-funded project

High-level policy discussion: In a Cloud world – How do IT skills matter for Europe’s competitiveness?

EMF will participate the 27 February in the High-level policy discussion: In a Cloud world – How do IT skills matter for Europe’s competitiveness? organized by the Danish Technological Institute, Fraunhofer and DG Enterprise & Industry.

The event aims to invigorate the eSkills debate to ensure that Europe remains competitive in the cloud future and it is organised in three sessions:

-Cloud Visions: Why we need to be talking about skills?
-Developing tomorrows eSkills, training tomorrows IT professionals
-Policy approaches for the future: a call for action

The event will also serve to launch the report: "Cloud computing - Cyber security and green IT - e-Skills for ICT practitioners and entrepreneurs", which was commissioned by the DG Enterprise & Industry. 

Download the agenda
More information on the report will be soon added to this Blog.

Consultation on how best to leverage the cloud computing in Europe

The Commission is inviting all interested parties, in particular cloud developers and cloud users, to explain their experience, needs, expectations and insights into the use and provision of cloud computing. The survey seeks feedback on the following issues:

- data protection and liability questions, in particular in cross-border situations;
- other legal and technical barriers that can slow down the development of cloud computing in Europe;
- standardisation and interoperability solutions;
- uptake of cloud services, in particular by SMEs;
- ways to promote research and innovation in cloud computing.

The online public consultation will run until the August 31st and the results will feed into a European cloud computing strategy that the Commission will present in 2012.

Access to the public consultation