A method, system, and computer program product for implementing automated serverless runtime container allocation is provided. The method includes defining a number of runtime containers and associated characteristics required for each worker node of a plurality of worker nodes for execution of a specified workload. The specified workload is dispatched to the plurality of worker nodes and a specified portion of the specified workload is assigned to each worker node. An application executing a universal runtime container that includes potential application runtimes and associated supported software versions within a layered modifiable format is generated and unused layers are removed from the universal runtime container. The specified workload is executed via the universal runtime container and a set of available universal runtime containers is refilled on an associated work node.