Education & Employment

Data centers offer enormous employment opportunities. In the Netherlands alone, around 11.000 people work in and around data centers. Due to increasing digitisation, employment opportunities will continue to grow in the years to come. Due to 24×7 operations and growing internet traffic, it’s essential for datacenters to have access to qualified personnel to secure our digital economy and prosperity.

To reduce the shortage of technical personnel, we initiated a number of educational data center programs. In collaboration with vocational schools (MBO), two technical data center modules are being set-up to educate young students. In addition, a Data Center College is in the making to retrain job seekers. Finally, we work closely together with fellow EU educational professionals to set a European standard in data center curricula. All educational programs are fully supported by the industry through knowledge sharing, data center tours and guest lectures.

Together with educational and industry partners, we commit strongly to guiding digital and technical talent in life long learning in data centers. This way, we can facilitate further growth of our digital economy, and we can safeguard our position as Digital Gateway to Europe.

Our activities

Setting up vocational courses for data centers
Secure the industry certification
Facilitating data center tours and internships for schools and students
Promoting diversity and inclusion in the industry
Informing and enthusing young talent
Promoting diversity in the sector

Our position

Accelerate and make education more flexible

The labor market is evolving at a rapid pace, while developing or updating curricula is often a very slow process. To respond more quickly to changing market needs, the government will need to further increase flexibility in the education system, enabling institutions to update existing curricula more easily. This way, we can better prepare young people for the new jobs of tomorrow and continue to meet long-term labor market demands.

Promote public-private partnerships

A significant gap has emerged between the demand for technical workers and the supply of qualified professionals. To improve alignment with the labor market, a strong focus is needed on hybrid forms of education, in which the industry is actively involved in (regional) education. This includes contributing to curriculum development, offering internships and work-based learning opportunities, and providing guest lectures. Government support is essential to ensure the success of this new approach to education.

Promote careers in the data sector

Working in data centers offers a guaranteed career path filled with growth and opportunity. As the importance of the internet continues to rise, the data center sector is experiencing steady growth—along with the demand for (technical) talent. Currently, all companies are competing for the same limited pool of qualified professionals. We must therefore actively work to engage new target groups in pursuing careers in the digital sector. There is significant potential, for example, in inspiring young girls and women, as well as in training underprivileged youth.

safeguard the free movement of labor

Many companies in the digital sector address current staff shortages by recruiting skilled workers from abroad. To support them in this effort, it is important to ease regulations surrounding the free movement of labor within the European Union as much as possible. In addition, we must continue to position ourselves as the digital gateway to Europe, making it more attractive for digital and technical talent to build their careers here.

Interviews

Publications

Reference work

View relevant data center industry figures here

Contact person

Andrew van der Haar

Policy Officer Education & Employment

E: andrew@dutchdatacenters.nl