Why Coding Is Still One of the Most Important Job Skill for the Future

In this digital age, there is a huge demand for coding skills and programming jobs across industries. In fact, demand for coding and programming jobs is projected to grow 13% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 

Some specific coding fields such as software development, quality assurance analysts, and testers have an even higher projected growth rate, which the BLS projects will grow 22% in that same period.

It seems the future is set in code. So much so that schools and colleges across the world are scrumbling to fill this demand, which is reinforcing coding as the skill for the future.

More learning institutions are launching online and offline coding and programming classes, and coding boot camps have also become common these days to initiate kids into the coding arena early. And coding jobs consistently boast high salaries. 

The BLS reports that computer programmers earned a median salary of $89,190 in 2020, web developers earned a median of $77,200 per year, and software developers earned $110,140 per year.

The number of software developers worldwide has also been growing accordingly. In 2019, there were 26.4 million software developers worldwide. This number is predicted to reach 28.7 million by 2024, an increase of 3.2 million from the number seen in 2020, according to Statista.

With the huge demand for coding skills, you may wonder why this skill is so important today, and what its predicted future outlook looks like.

 

The Future Is Set in Code

 

Peter Drucker, the Austrian-born American management thought leader who revolutionized the perception of business, stated that “the most valuable asset of a 21st-century institution, whether business or non-business, will be its knowledge workers and their productivity."

Today, almost every industry requires its workers to be tech-literate. Coding came to prominence with the rise of machines and automation. Its importance is recognized worldwide as schools and colleges scrambled to add coding languages to their curriculum  from the1960s onwards. Even government institutions were set up to teach coding.

Programmers are also involved in various stages of a product launch. They might be a part of the design and launch (as interface designers), marketing and management (as automation experts), backend managers (server set-up) and more.

Some languages that professionals and experts would be expected to know are:

• JavaScript
• C++
• Python
• HTML and CSS
• R
• Golang

While we cannot dispel the importance of programming languages, the big question remains as to whether coding is really a valuable skill in your business and for the future.

Let’s take a look at why coding still rocks and is key to future success.

 

Why Coding Matters Today More Than Ever

 

The burst of the dot-com bubble in the 1990s caused a steep decline in tech-related jobs. Hence, some people believe that coding jobs may not offer long-lasting prospects. However, this is entirely false.

Around 60% of the jobs today have some or many features that can be automated. And the person working to ensure this automation is a software developer or engineer.

Today, every industry relies in some part on coders. From software giants that sell physical and digital products to the aircraft industry, coders can program hardware, create software interfaces and encrypt data.

Here’re are additional reasons why coding is one of the most important job skill for the future:

 

1. More Jobs Now Require Coding Skills

 

We have moved on to an age where everything is governed by technology. The element of coding is making its way into jobs that earlier required no programming knowledge.

Graphic designers in the early 2000s, for example, might have been happy with a paper medium. However today, digital art is predominant. And almost all editors online have an HTML section where you can create a template from scratch.

The same goes for UI/UX designers, product designers, business analysts and security specialists. Knowing to code makes the system a slave to you, rather than you being a slave to the system and its limitations.

 

2. Cyber Security in All Industries Is Now Essential 

 

What’s the most valuable commodity today? Data, of course!

Companies in all industries now spend a large number of resources on data administrators and cybersecurity experts to ensure that their servers are well-encrypted. In 2019, for example, Facebook spent a whopping 3.7 billion dollars on security alone!

Small companies and businesses also now find they need to invest in ensuring the security and safety of their data. Institutions and organizations in different sectors also increasingly deal with sensitive information in today’s digital world. This includes in places like government offices, banks, educational institutes and eCommerce portals.

Consequently, there is an increase in tech professionals who can assure this security. Such experts are well-versed in languages like HTML, C, C++, Python and Assembly.

 

3. Automation Is Key to Driving Enhanced Productivity 

 

A large number of jobs are now being automated. Automation means setting up a system that can perform repetitive tasks without human intervention. This has been successfully implemented across various industries.

Marketers, for example, use email automation to send quick emails. Assembly lines use automated robots to perform repetitive assembly tasks. Automated chatbots provide assistance across multiple websites. Automation is the future.

Automation is mostly based on a code. And this is done by a programmer.

Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are two of the top streams that require strong coders to write smooth and glitch-free code.

The interesting thing is that about it all is - it does not look likely that automation will go away anytime soon. In fact, the ML and AI industry is only poised to keep growing and reinventing itself to meet the current market needs, with new inventions and techniques.

 

4. Coding Is a Gateway to Higher Paying Jobs

 

According to Glassdoor, the #1 job in America is that of a Java Developer. Learning coding skills is a great way to increase your career prospects. Employers often place higher importance on a candidate who has basic coding knowledge.

A UI-UX designer who knows HTML can cover a greater field than a UI-UX designer who relies on a separate coding specialist to make ideas come to life. The same goes for a business analyst who waits for someone else to implement their strategies into code. Knowing how to code can also make switching from one job to another easier.

However, programming languages are frequently updated and you must be willing to learn and grow all the time. Hence, learning languages also shows employers that you are someone willing to put in the effort. Coding can open up new career prospects or make you stand out at your current post.

 

 Conclusion

 

There is no doubt that the need for people with coding skills is on the rise, with new job opportunities in the sector emerging every day. Who would have needed a graphic artist with basic HTML knowledge, say 20 years ago? However, today, they often go hand in hand.

Famous architects are known to code entire software programs to help them create their designs. Larger businesses also develop their own interfaces with the help of in-house coders. All sectors can benefit from the skills of a programmer.

Be it a multi-billionaire corporate-like Apple or a local small business, a professional with coding skills is needed to modernize and future-proof the organization.