Microsoft: Cloud Computing to Create Millions of Jobs

Countering conventional wisdom, new commissioned research from IDC predicts the cloud will generate nearly 14 million new jobs worldwide by 2015.

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Microsoft Corp.

Mar 05, 2012, 04:00 ET

REDMOND, Wash., March 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. today published commissioned research from analyst firm IDC indicating that cloud computing will create nearly 14 million new jobs globally by 2015. IDC's research predicts revenues from cloud innovation could reach $1.1 trillion per year by 2015, which, combined with cloud efficiencies, will drive significant organizational reinvestment and job growth.

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"For most organizations, cloud computing should be a no-brainer, given its ability to increase IT innovation and flexibility, lower capital costs, and help generate revenues that are multiples of spending," said John F. Gantz, chief research officer and senior vice president at IDC. "A common misperception is cloud computing is a job eliminator, but in truth it will be a job creator — a major one. And job growth will occur across continents and throughout organizations of all sizes because emerging markets, small cities and small businesses have the same access to cloud benefits as large enterprises or developed nations."

The report also indicates specific industries will generate job growth at different rates, and that public cloud investments will drive faster job growth than private cloud investments. The report also notes governments can influence the number of jobs created by cloud computing within individual countries. More information, including the full report, is available at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2012/mar12/03-05CloudComputingJobs.mspx.

Microsoft is delivering a set of solutions to drive the cloud's growing future. The company offers full public and private cloud solutions for consumers and organizations of all sizes. These enable customers to reap the benefits of cloud computing — from connecting and sharing for consumers, to lowering costs and realizing new technical or strategic opportunities for organizations. More information on Microsoft cloud solutions is available at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/cloud/default.aspx?fbid=92ndoVValL4.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.