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Demand for “cloud-ready” IT workers will grow 26 percent annually through 2015, with as many as 7 million new cloud-related jobs available worldwide by that time. This is according to a new IDC report (sponsored by Microsoft).

IT hiring managers reported that there were 1.7 million cloud-related positions that opened up in 2012 and went unfilled. The hiring managers cited a lack of training, as well as the early stages of cloud computing technology.

You have not seen anything yet. If you do some simple math and track the growth of the cloud computing space over the next few years, as well as the number of qualified job seekers that will be in the marketplace, we’re in for a shortage that we’ve yet to see during any shift in technology. We’re talking 100 to 200 job openings chasing one qualified candidate.

Of course, training will add to the number of workers with available skills. However, most enterprises will need those who are already proven in the use of cloud computing technology. Those who hang up a new cloud computing training certificate won’t be very effective until they get some on-the-job training. Considering the complexity of the technology, that could take a year or two.

Enterprises that are looking to move into the cloud need to plan now for the shift in technology and required skill sets. This could mean hiring in advance of the need and building a strong team before all the good cloud brains are gone.