The demand for technical talent skilled in Azure has surged, cutting into AWS’s dominance in the cloud sector. Revelio Labs data shows that in 2017, only 21% of job postings mentioned Azure-specific skills, while AWS led with over 60% of mentions.
Microsoft’s aggressive cloud growth strategy, which includes expanding into enterprise and government sectors, has also contributed to this increase. Azure’s market traction is further fueled by its integrated suite of services, which appeals to companies already invested in Microsoft’s ecosystem. These companies often find it easier to extend into Azure, driving greater demand for skilled professionals in the platform.
By July 2024, Azure mentions rose to 34%, while AWS mentions dropped to 40%.
AWS, while still a strong player, is seeing its dominance in job postings slip. The number of postings exclusively asking for AWS skills dropped from 51% in 2017 to 29% in 2024. As businesses diversify their cloud investments, they seek candidates proficient in multiple platforms, reducing the emphasis on AWS-only expertise.
The narrowing gap between Azure and AWS suggests that organizations are beginning to view multi-cloud solutions as a strategic necessity, increasing competition between the two providers. Enterprises are balancing their cloud workloads across multiple platforms to avoid vendor lock-in, spurring demand for skills in both Azure and AWS.
Job postings are the secret to understanding cloud trends
Job postings offer a revealing glimpse into which cloud platforms are performing well in the market. Hiring trends show where enterprises are placing their bets, and an increase in job postings for a particular cloud technology often indicates that the platform is gaining traction.
The rising number of Azure-related job postings shows that Microsoft is making inroads into industries previously dominated by AWS.
Revelio Labs Economist Anna Airoldi points out that job postings are a useful tool for understanding market dynamics, sometimes offering insights that revenue and spending data alone cannot provide.
Demand for cloud skills is one of the clearest indicators of which technologies are succeeding, as companies typically ramp up hiring in response to increased adoption of specific cloud platforms.
Cloud job postings mirror major shifts in market power
Job postings for cloud roles offer a clear reflection of the market’s evolving dynamics. As Azure’s market share grows, the demand for Azure-trained professionals has also risen sharply, aligning with Microsoft’s broader strategic goals.
An increasing number of job postings for Azure-specific skills matches the platform’s growing influence in industries such as aerospace, defense, and IT services.
Companies are turning to Azure because of its cloud services and due to the integration with broader enterprise solutions. It is a trend that has expanded Azure’s footprint, making it an attractive option for businesses seeking to modernize their cloud infrastructure, further driving up job postings.
The race to find and train top talent
The acceleration of cloud migrations and deployments is driving an increase in the demand for cloud technicians. Enterprises are moving more of their workloads to the cloud, and as this transition picks up speed, the already limited pool of available talent is stretched thin. With the global cloud market expected to exceed $700 billion, organizations are scrambling to onboard professionals who can manage and scale cloud environments effectively.
Such a surge in cloud activity has heightened the competition for skilled technicians, particularly those proficient in Azure and AWS. Companies are looking for cloud expertise while also looking for individuals who can manage migrations, optimize infrastructure, and deploy services across multi-cloud environments.
In order to combat the shortage of cloud professionals, both AWS and Microsoft are ramping up their training and certification efforts. AWS added two new cloud-based AI certifications and corresponding training programs in June 2024, aiming to equip professionals with the skills necessary to manage cutting-edge AI and machine learning workloads in the cloud.
Similarly, Microsoft has expanded its certification programs to include specialized training in AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
Why companies now want cloud pros with multi-cloud expertise
Multi-cloud proficiency is becoming a standard requirement across job postings. Between 2017 and 2024, the number of job postings seeking multi-cloud skills rose by 6 percentage points.
As companies build more complex cloud infrastructures, they need professionals who can navigate multiple cloud platforms, whether for optimizing cost structures, increasing flexibility, or bolstering security.
Many companies now run hybrid and multi-cloud environments, using different providers for different services, which is driving demand for professionals skilled in AWS, Azure, and sometimes even Google Cloud or other platforms.
IT teams must be able to manage cross-platform integrations, increasing the value of candidates who bring multi-cloud experience to the table.
Industries betting big on Azure, but newcomers stick with AWS
Azure continues to gain market share in sectors like IT services, aerospace, and defense. Job postings in these industries reflect a growing preference for Azure as a cloud platform, particularly in complex environments where security, compliance, and scalability are key concerns.
Azure’s strong performance in regulated industries can be attributed to its focus on enterprise-grade security and its adherence to global compliance standards.
Such sectors are investing heavily in cloud transformations, and Azure’s ability to integrate with existing IT systems while offering specialized solutions has made it a preferred choice. It can be especially true for companies that already use Microsoft products, making Azure a natural extension of their tech stack.
Why new cloud adopters still flock to AWS first
Despite Azure’s inroads in various sectors, AWS continues to hold a strong lead among organizations new to cloud computing. In July 2024, over 60% of job postings by companies hiring cloud talent for the first time sought technicians with AWS skills.
AWS’s dominance in this segment can also be attributed to its extensive resources and support for cloud migrations, making it easier for organizations with limited cloud experience to onboard their operations onto the platform.
While Azure is making strides, AWS remains the platform of choice for businesses just starting their cloud journey, particularly in sectors where speed and ease of use are primary concerns.
