Talent crisis in digital infrastructures, over two million professionals are missing

To respond to this emergency, Equinix announced the global expansion of
Pathways to Tech
and orientation program aimed at students between 14 and 18 years old. The initiative, which has already involved around 2,000 young people in the pilot phase, aims to make technical careers often ignored by the general public visible, offering practical experiences and direct visits to IBX infrastructures. “Despite the growing attention the industry has received in recent years, the work of data center professionals remains largely invisible to the general public. The vast majority of people don’t know what really happens inside a data center, so it’s understandable that a career in this space is rarely considered. And even when someone thinks about working in a data center, they often don’t know what education or training they need to get started. This is the challenge we want to address with our workforce development initiatives, which start from investments at community level”, declared Emanuela Grandi, Managing Director of Equinix Italia. “At Equinix, success depends on talent excellence, so we are deeply committed to developing a diverse, future-ready technical workforce. Investing in people is how we continue to chart the path to tomorrow”.

“We are determined to nurture these talents now, expand opportunities in the communities we serve, and ensure the industry has the skills needed for the next era of innovation”, added Brandi Galvin Morandi, Chief People Officer at Equinix. “By reaching students early and providing hands-on exposure to data centers, interconnection technologies, and hands-on learning experiences, we’re not just competing for talent: we’re creating it”.

The development strategy also includes the creation of the Global Data Center Technician Training Coalition, a multi-company alliance in partnership with Equinix’s philanthropic foundation and the nonprofit Generation. This project aims to co-finance training and define standardized educational programs to encourage economic mobility and access to entry-level operations roles. The approach is not limited to competing for existing talent, but aims to “nurture it early on”, as added by Brandi Galvin Morandi, the company’s Chief People Officer.

In Italy, the impact of these policies is reflected in apprenticeship programs and collaborations with training institutions such as ITS Angelo Rizzoli, allowing young technicians to acquire field skills in managing critical environments. The new workforce development initiatives, including the Learning Labs dedicated to electrotechnical and electronic profiles, will begin their global rollout during 2026. More information on career opportunities and training paths is available in the section dedicated to the Equinix Foundation.