Align Your IT Career Trajectory to the Key Tech Trends for 2025
After the tech layoffs of 2023/24 and the rapid rise of AI, combined with the ever-accelerating pace of change in the tech industry, it’s no surprise that IT professionals are looking for ways to align their career paths for success in 2025. So here at Linux Foundation Education we’ve identified the key trends that IT pros need to be on top of to keep their careers on track this year.
- Upskilling & cross-skilling will rule! Regardless of your experience level or career track, keeping your IT knowledge and skills up-to-date is the biggest challenge every IT pro faces. The easiest and most flexible way to stay ahead is by investing in a robust e-learning subscription. Quality over quantity really matters here. Take a moment to assess the range of courses across technologies as well as experience levels. Also, be sure courses offer plenty of hands-on labs with access to experts and other value adds to be sure your investment pays off. Our THRIVE-Annual subscription is a solid benchmark.
- The importance of certifications will continue to grow. Whether you are looking to jump to a new employer, score a promotion or simply increase job security, earning and maintaining certifications are key. Certifications will continue to increase in importance to employers who are focused on hiring for proven skills over university degrees. Not sure where to start? Check out our certification catalog to help you set your 2025 certification goals.
- Specialized certifications will become key talent differentiators that make you stand out. As foundational tech certifications that show a breadth of skills and knowledge become more common – think Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) or Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) – specialized certifications, such as Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA), FINOS Financial Services Certified Open Source Developer (FSOSD) or Besu Certified Professional (BCP) that prove depth of skills and knowledge will help you stand out from the competition. Check out our certification catalog to decide which of our more than 20 industry standard-setting certifications will help you achieve your next career goal.
- AI will drive an intensive demand for Linux pros. A fact that rarely gets mentioned in the many conversations about GenAI is that Linux is the de facto operating system for cloud based LLM models. As the use of AI explodes in 2025 so will the demand for Linux pros with cloud native skills to manage the increased load. With more than 90 percent of the public cloud running on Linux, combining Linux with cloud native skills helps keep your employment opportunities wide open. Let our certification journey and learning paths be your guide.
- The Cybersecurity push will intensify on multiple fronts. As the demand for dedicated cybersecurity professionals continues its meteoric trajectory, IT teams and developers will face growing pressure to integrate cybersecurity into every phase of software development and deployment, reflecting the ongoing shift-left in security practices. No matter what your role is, we can help with cybersecurity courses, certifications and custom workshops.
- Demand for IT pros with the open source skills in finance will see explosive growth, especially in the second half of the year. In 2025, everywhere you look in finance – traditional financial institutions, private equity, crypto and beyond – IT pros that understand the intersection of IT, finance and regulatory compliance will be highly sought after. In addition to the traditional drivers of the role of open source and expansion to the cloud, the importance of cybersecurity, the explosion of AI and machine learning along with a less volatile global economy will all act as large demand multipliers for IT pros. From free courses to certifications, find out how we can help you succeed in finance IT.
- Here comes quantum computing! Yes, quantum has been coming for a long time, what will make 2025 different is that companies – and governments – with big needs and deep pockets are now able to build quantum algorithms and run them over simulators and early-stage machines to better understand quantum’s implications and start to prioritize how to deploy its power IRL. Our free quantum computing course series offers the perfect introduction for MBAs and IT pros alike to jump into the quantum realm.
- AI for the masses will multiply demand for AI IT pros! AI will evolve from a niche tool to an essential skill in all aspects of work by the end of 2025. IT pros will need to understand AI and its career implications from multiple directions, including prompt engineering, server and cloud management and core AI/ML build skills. We can help with everything from hands-on prompt engineering courses to Pytorch skill development and business implications. Check out all our AI-related courses.
- RISC-V will solidify its position as a formidable force in the semiconductor industry. Driven by rapid market growth, increasing core shipments, and expanding adoption across diverse high-performance applications, RISC-V will continue its double digit growth particularly in communications, automotive, and 5G infrastructure. From free courses to certifications, we have everything you need to build your RISC-V career.
- Nurturing skills and knowledge across multiple technologies and disciplines will prove essential. Whether you are guiding your own career, a team or an entire organization to success, as IT resources continue to tighten and the need for top level IT pros expands in legacy industries like manufacturing, government, agriculture and mining the broader your skills the stronger your competitive advantage. Check out the 2024 State of Tech Talent report for an in-depth exploration and stay tuned for the 2025 report coming out in June.
A final word of career building advice. The ideal candidate will always be the person with strong critical thinking and excellent soft skills in addition to technical skills.
