With sustainability high on the agenda for plenty of Swiss businesses, transparency and accountability are focal points for much of the nation’s IT sector. Cloud computing is no different, a space that’s drawn attention in recent years for its staggering ecological impact.
As Switzerland works to develop its position as a global leader in sustainability, its tech leaders are tussling to capitalise on the green boom, reflected in some major funding rounds for eco-friendly cloud initiatives.
Helio, for example, a Swiss cloud computing specialist, raised €4.9 million (CHF 4.6 million) to fuel progress on developing a more sustainable, carbon-aware cloud back in 2023.
What does the push for sustainable cloud computing mean for the Swiss job market? The Trust in SODA team are seeing the ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) trend manifest in some unique ways:
The rise of new roles– according to LinkedIn data, green jobs are growing at twice the rate of the workers with the skills needed to fill them. We’re currently seeing this contribute to a widening skill gap (250,000 vacancies according to recent reports).
Increased cloud adoption– an estimated 84% of Swiss businesses planning to advance their cloud adoption in the next year, and cloud engineers are in high demand.
Increased virtualisation– virtualisation offers an environmentally friendly alternative to server architecture, enabling
A rise in sustainable technologies and practices, including virtualisation.
Switzerland’s unique regulatory dynamics will demand governance insight from workers.
Juniors will start learning AI fundamentals to future-proof their prospects.
Project management-focused roles are among the fastest growing.
The talent market is saturated despite the skill shortages (somewhat paradoxically). Candidates will need to work harder to stand out.
Moreover, Switzerland's CO2 Act imposes carbon levies on all industries – which includes IT and cloud computing – encouraging businesses to adopt more energy-efficient practices and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Supply chain management (Scope 3 emissions) will likely be a big part of Switzerland’s push to meet 2050 net zero targets, as FINMA made Confederation, Cantons, and Federal businesses subject to an accelerated decarbonisation schedule in June 2023(a challenge that will encompass energy consumption from data centres).
Like most facets of modern business, AI and machine learning are set to make an impact in the sustainability space, provided decision-makers can bridge the gap between action and intention. Energy and cost optimisation are a few of the big promises made by AI integrations, but for many, familiar challenges (lack of access to talent, transformation challenges, knowledge sharing) stand in the way.
Finding the Right Fit
As sustainability exerts its influence on the Swiss cloud space, we’re anticipating a rise in ecological awareness throughout the digitalisation process, including the supply chain.
While Switzerland maintains its position as a European leader in cloud computing (particularly in managed cloud services), the increasing complexity of multi-cloud environments is driving demand for niche expertise.
Finding the right candidate fit in light of 2030’s looming sustainability targets is proving difficult to manage without specialist support.
How are you navigating oncoming sustainability challenges in the fast-changing world of cloud computing?
As B Corp certified recruitment specialists, we’re always eager to connect with impact-driven business leaders who focus on long-term sustainability. In a transformative sector like cloud computing, Switzerland has an opportunity to build on a burgeoning industry (provided companies can put the right people in the right positions).
