Software has been needed since the invention of hardware. Are software developers in demand? The short answer is yes. And the trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Every business is digital as the world changes. Banks need developers to improve and create algorithms. Retailers are seeking ways to recommend the best products. Marketing and internal divisions need tools to make them more efficient.
As the industry grows, so do the people who learn to program. The big question is: Is there too many programmers? This article will examine the truth and show you where there are opportunities.
It is worth noting that, although demand is high, there are many more developers than ever before. If you want to stand out, you shouldn’t limit yourself to one language. You might consider taking a course such as Coding Dojo that will teach you three complete stacks. This will allow you to adapt to the constantly changing market.
This industry is growing quickly
Software development is growing at a rapid pace compared to other industries. For context, the average unemployment rate is expected to increase by approximately 5% between 2018-2028. This is not a significant increase. However, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of software development jobs will grow significantly. They expect it to be closer to 21%, which is four times the average.
It’s not surprising that the industry is growing so fast that there will be a shortage of developers to fill it. This is a clear indicator that programmers will be in high demand. This is a skilled occupation, so companies cannot just hire anyone to fill these positions.
We recommend that you start learning as soon as the industry is growing. This will allow you to gain the real-world experience that you need to get a job. We also believe that software development will be a standard subject in schools in the future, which will make the market more competitive.
Demand is the determinant of pay. Developers are well-paid.
Companies need developers. We’ve already mentioned that there are many apps, websites, back end systems, databases, databases to search through, and software to create. It’s also a highly skilled profession. It’s not possible to just pick someone off the street and teach them the job.
This is reflected in the salaries. According to PayScale the average salary for a software developer is $85,000 per year. A junior software developer can expect to start at $60,000. This is an average. Seasoned professionals can make even more.
We all know the realities of business. They don’t pay well if it’s difficult to find the right people. If there is a backlog of applicants, you don’t pay this kind of salary. It’s paid when you need to motivate people to choose you over a competitor.
There are more than 2.5 million developers.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that approximately 2.5 million people were employed in software development in 2019. This includes both web developers and computer programmers.
Although they are all similar professions, the title of “software developer” is the most popular. Here are some examples of these figures.
OccupationTotal employedWomen employedComputer programmers454,00020,300Software developers, applications and system software1,815,00018,700Web developers193,00041,400Total2,462,00080,400Number of hired people in 2019.
Here’s a chance for women
These statistics show a serious lack of women. It’s thousands, not millions. Are there fewer women applying or is this a bias favoring men? Based on the data, we don’t know. We hope it means that companies, if not already, will start to diversify their workforces.
If you are a woman looking to get into the industry, this is a great opportunity. This imbalance cannot continue. These numbers will need to rise.
It’s more than just development.
Software development is in high demand. However, you should also consider other career options. There are many titles that can be used to describe similar jobs, such as web developer, programmer or system developer. In fact, Burning Glass discovered seven million jobs in 2015 that required coding skills. Sometimes it’s data science where you have to be able quickly to analyse large amounts of information. Sometimes it’s in accounting, where you need to be able to quickly create reports every month. You might be one of those lucky people who can create an internal game that teaches employees how to work in the company.
Programming skills can be transferred in a fundamental way. It is easier to use languages in other roles or departments if you are proficient in them. Even if you don’t get the job you want as a software developer or programmer, you won’t waste your skills.
How can you make yourself stand out?