A method, system and computer program product for dependency layer deployment optimization in a workload node cluster. Historical data of workload deployment requests to a workload node cluster and a list of dependency layers for the workload deployment request are maintained, where a dependency layer defines support programs on which a workload program depends. Furthermore, a map of currently deployed dependency layers across the nodes of the workload node cluster is maintained. The historical data is analyzed to generate predictions of dependency layers required in the workload node cluster at given times. Furthermore, dependency layers are deployed and/or reclaimed in the workload node cluster according to the predictions ahead of a workload deployment request requiring predicted dependency layers.