Addressing the Skills Gap in the Data Centre Industry

Demand for data centre capacity in Europe is projected to expand in 2025 at its fastest pace in four years, according to recent research by CBRE. If this projection is realised, it will establish a new benchmark for data centre take-up in Europe and “will represent the highest year-on-year growth of take-up in Europe since 2021, when demand for capacity spiked”. However, though demand is increasing, there are significant challenges facing the sector to secure land and power at scale, and the fact remains that these obstacles  need to be addressed as a priority in order to meet the demand. 

While it may seem obvious, it’s worth stating: the industry’s workforce is and will continue to be central to identifying solutions to overcome these challenges, to innovate and evolve the sector, and to build and operate at the capacity needed. Demand in this regard is also outpacing the supply. From designing energy-efficient infrastructure to managing complex cooling and power systems, data centres rely on experienced engineers and technical specialists to keep pace with expansion while maintaining reliability and sustainability.  

How Has the Industry Responded To-Date? 

Overall, positive steps have been made to address the overall data centre skills shortage in Europe. For instance, in the UK, University Technical College Heathrow (UTC Heathrow) and techUK created the Data Centre UTC in the UK, as part of the Digital Futures Programme – a first for the industry. UTC Heathrow redesigned their existing curriculum to allow students to gain the essential knowledge and skills needed to thrive in technical careers within the data centre sector and added it as a new career path option, with CyrusOne acting as a key partner in defining the syllabus. As an extension of this partnership, our LON6 data center has been purposefully designed to include a dedicated, standalone industry-specific training centre for CyrusOne employees, students and apprentices located within the premises. With the 90 MW campus development expected to create c. 540 roles required to maintain and operate the data center once fully operational, this initiative is an integral part of CyrusOne's approach to tackling the skills gap.

At CyrusOne, we have taken a proactive approach to developing talent in the data centre sector. For instance, in the UK, we partnered with Harrow, Richmond & Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC) to create an apprenticeship programme aimed at recruiting maintenance and operations engineering technicians. This collaboration combined structured education with real-world industry exposure, including dedicated data centre tours and one-to-one interviews for selected candidates, ensuring participants gain both knowledge and practical insights. Separately, in Germany, our collaboration with leading education provider Provadis led to the launch of the Data Centre Technician Programme, providing students with hands-on experience and a clear pathway into the industry. 

In addition, projects like PEDCA (Pan-European Data Centre Academy) under the EU helped with regional gap analyses, consulting among employers, and identifying where professional development and recognition are lacking. 

These initiatives show good progress, but wider industry commitment is needed as the speed of growth is so high that the level of training and upskilling the workforce is not keeping pace. 

What Needs to Happen Now

As demand for capacity grows and the roles required in the workforce continue to evolve, there are a number of steps that the industry needs to take to future-proof the sector. 

Advance the Recruitment Processes

Meeting the sector’s workforce needs will require a broader approach to recruitment. Alongside preparing younger talent for future demand, there is an urgent need to bring skilled engineers from adjacent industries into the fold today. This is because the skills demand is shifting in response to technological developments – most notably, the impact of AI – which is increasing the need for more specialised roles. 

For data centres, the implications of AI are widespread. AI workloads are far more power- and compute-intensive than traditional applications, placing unprecedented strain on existing infrastructure. Supporting these workloads requires specialised expertise in advanced cooling technologies, high-density server management, automation, and sustainable operations that can balance rising energy use with environmental commitments. It’s critical that how and who the industry recruits are reflective of this shift.  

Strengthen Retention Strategies

It’s important to note that retention is as much of a problem as recruitment. A commitment to continuous training and learning is imperative to ensure that the workforce remains engaged and sees the long-term opportunities that the industry provides. 

What’s more, by investing in ongoing training and professional development, data centre operators can ensure their workforce remains agile and equipped to handle the sector’s shifting requirements. In this way, AI represents both a challenge and an opportunity: a driver of demand that simultaneously opens the door to innovation and career development within the industry.

Building a More Diverse Workforce

Diversity gaps in the industry are limiting the size of the talent pool. Like many technical industries, the data centre sector has historically been male dominated. Increasing diversity, particularly by encouraging more women into engineering roles, will be essential to bridging the skills gap. Inclusive recruitment strategies and structured training programmes can help attract individuals from underrepresented groups and support them as they build careers in this space.

Alongside this, attracting young graduates remains vital given the sector’s ageing workforce. Although Europe produces large numbers of engineering graduates, many are drawn to fields such as nuclear, energy, or pharmaceuticals. The data centre sector must compete more actively for this talent through graduate schemes, campus roadshows, and stronger partnerships with universities. These efforts also help shift perceptions, highlighting the central role of data centres in enabling digital transformation.

Looking Ahead 

Ultimately, the skills challenge cannot be solved by short-term hiring alone. The industry must establish long-term pipelines through partnerships with educational institutions, tailored apprenticeship programmes, and outreach to sectors experiencing downsizing. By combining the expertise of experienced engineers with the enthusiasm of younger and diverse talent, data centres can secure the workforce needed to support the next phase of digital growth.