It’s no surprise that software developers are highly sought-after individuals. After all, technology and innovation continue to be extremely valuable aspects of the modern business world. And those who can code and provide IT support are key to an organization’s success.
Notably, new research from Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) found that there’s welcome news for these workers. “Secular tailwinds abound in today’s technology, ranging from cloud computing to data analytics to mobility to groundbreaking capabilities and use cases in artificial intelligence,” according to the article. “These forces are bringing technology into traditionally non-tech sectors like never before. In turn, these trends are driving increasing demand for software development roles.”
In fact, SIA estimates that “staffing of software developers/engineers/DevOps represented a $10.2 billion market in the US in 2019.”
Looking at Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, the industry looks even more attractive, according to SIA. “Employment growth for software developers [is expected] to soar by approximately 21% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than forecasted growth across all other computer occupations (+8.4%),” according to the information provided.
Moreover, drilling down further indicates what types of software developers will be needed most in this booming industry. The article continues: “Application software developer employment, in particular, is projected to experience phenomenal growth (+25.6%), on top of an already substantial base.”
In terms of more granular skills that companies are looking for the most from the software developers they hire? SIA notes that these include knowing how to code in HTML, JavaScript, Java and Python, which is “the fastest-growing major programming language.”
Highlighting just how important software developers are to organizations, the BLS added that “in the U.S., the Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that the number of software developers needed will grow 24% from 2016 to 2026, over three times the average rate of 7% for all other occupations,” as noted by an article on tech trends for 2019.
In sum, software developers are going to be in huge demand in the coming months and years. By staying on top of this trend and building a strong pipeline of developer talent, you’ll be able to help your organization succeed.