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It’s National Coding Week — a time to celebrate the power of coding and digital skills in today’s world.
As technology continues to shape every industry, coding is no longer just for programmers or software developers, but arguably a core skill for many careers.
But regardless of skills, the IT job sector is constantly shifting.
Certain Information Technology jobs, like information security analysts and software developers, are seeing rapid growth, while more traditional positions, like computer programmers, are declining.
In this article, we’ll explore IT job growth based on the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and find out where upskilling into coding remains essential.
Key Takeaways
- IT job growth is strong in roles such as Information Security Analysts (+33%) and Software Developers (+17%).
- However traditional roles, such as Computer Programmers, are seeing a decline (–10%) due to automation and outsourcing.
- Coding remains essential, though its role is shifting toward areas like scripting and automation in growth fields.
- Cloud computing and cybersecurity are two areas that increasingly require coding skills for efficiency and security management.
- Upskilling with coding can boost career prospects in leadership and emerging tech roles like CTO or project manager.
Exploring IT Job Growth: Rising and Declining Roles
The latest job outlook published by the BLS shows some interesting growth and decline trends in tech careers.
If you’re considering technology careers, you should know that roles like Info Security Analysts are expected to grow significantly (a projected +33% in opportunities from 2023 to 2033).
This increase is likely due to the rising number of cyberattacks and the need for stronger security measures.
And as businesses rely more on advanced technology and complex systems, it makes sense that they need experts to create, improve, and manage these systems.
That’s why other roles with strong IT job growth include Computer and Info Research Scientists (+26%), Software Developers, QA Analysts and Testers (+17%), and Computer Network Architects (+13%).
On the flip side, more traditional technology careers are becoming less common. For example, Computer Programmer roles are expected to decline by 10% over the same period.
The decline could be due to factors such as the automation of basic coding, outsourcing, and job roles changing to require more than just coding.
However, this doesn’t mean coding is becoming irrelevant — far from it.
Coding is still essential, but it is now playing a greater role in careers like Software Developers, Database Admins, and Architects (who may use coding for scripting and automation), which are seeing positive growth in the IT job market.
Similarly, Network and Computer Systems Admins are expected to see a 3% drop. This might be because more companies are moving to cloud computing, so they don’t need as much on-site management.
However, even here, coding is useful — admins now need coding skills to manage cloud systems and automate tasks.
The takeaway? Coding skills are still essential for careers in tech, even though traditional programming jobs are declining.
To stay competitive in the realm of information technology jobs, combine coding with other valuable skills like project management, security, or cloud infrastructure.
How Coding Can Help You Land the Best Information Technology Jobs
It’s not creating a calculator that gets you ahead today; coding helps you create, improve, and troubleshoot complex systems that are important in today’s tech world — while also making you better at solving problems.
For example, in cybersecurity, coding skills help you find vulnerabilities in systems and write automated scripts to address security threats.
In cloud computing, coding allows you to automate repetitive tasks, making you more efficient and giving you more time to focus on high-level strategies.
Knowing how to code also makes you incredibly valuable to cross-functional teams, because you’ll be able to contribute to both the technical and strategic sides of projects.
Coding can not only help you land information technology jobs — it can also help you grow into leadership roles.
If you want to become a lead developer or move into management positions like Chief Technology Officer or project manager, coding skills show that you understand the core technical elements that drive your team’s work.
In the end, whether you’re new to tech or already have experience, improving your coding skills will help you succeed in computer careers.
Coding Upskilling Resources for Technology Careers
Here are some of our resources for upskilling your coding abilities.
- Top Coding Courses: Discover the best courses to start or improve your coding skills.
- Best Coding Bootcamps: Join an intensive bootcamp to quickly master coding.
- GitHub Copilot vs ChatGPT: Learn how AI tools are transforming the way we code.
The Bottom Line
While coding isn’t a deal-breaker for every tech role, it’s a skill that can significantly boost your marketability, especially in today’s competitive tech careers market.
With tech layoffs on the rise and the industry constantly evolving, having coding knowledge can give you an edge over other candidates, and help you get into future-proof information technology jobs.
Ultimately, building coding skills can increase your chances of navigating IT job growth and give you more opportunities to grow in your computer career.
