The 2015 Linux Jobs Report from The Linux Foundation and Dice was recently released. This forecasts the Linux job market based on a survey of Linux professionals and hiring managers. It found that managers are looking for more evidence of formal training and certifications when hiring Linux professionals.

Most hiring managers are looking to recruit Linux pros in the next six months, so that’s certainly good news. 97% of managers said they’ll bring on Linux talent relative to other skills areas in the next six months.

“Demand for Linux talent continues apace, and it’s becoming more important for employers to be able to verify candidates have the skillsets they need,” said Jim Zemlin, executive director at The Linux Foundation. “Formal training and certifications are a key way of identifying qualified talent, and as more people join the Linux community, it will be increasingly necessary for professionals to show they stand out in the crowd.”

According to the report, the rise of open cloud platforms is creating more demand for LInux pros with the right expertise. 42% of hiring managers said experience in OpenStack and CloudStack will have a significant impact on their hiring decisions. 23% said security is something they’re looking for expertise in, and 19% said they’re looking for Linux talent with software-defined skills.

“Competition for Linux talent is accelerating, as the software becomes more ubiquitous,” said Shravan Goli, President of Dice. “Hiring managers need to ensure they are offering the right set of incentives to attract talent, while professionals need to provide evidence of their knowledge and skills, especially in areas of growing demand such as the cloud.”

44% of hiring managers said they’re more likely to hire a candidate with Linux certification, and 54% expect either certification or formal training of their SysAdmin candidates.

You can find the full report here.