Bridging the skills gap: lessons from China

Data from the Uptime Institute Global Data Center Survey 2024 shows that data centers in China are facing a disproportionate shortage in senior expert operations managers and corporate managers compared with lower-level positions. Conversely, data centers in the US and Europe lack experienced junior-level operators but retain more skilled managerial staff. These regional disparities in skills gaps, however, are likely to narrow as the US and Europe approach a “silver tsunami”— the term used to describe the wave of baby boomers (usually in senior and managerial roles) entering retirement.

In the Uptime Institute 2024 data center survey, respondents in China reported that their most pressing skill shortages are in senior management (35%) and operations management (37%), respectively. Fewer pointed to skills gaps for junior-level operator positions (21%). In the US, nearly half (45%) of all respondents said they had junior and mid-level operator shortages, with only a quarter reporting operations management skills gaps (Figure 1).