According to the IEEE, the number of software developers is decreasing worldwide. Why do I think this is a “good” thing? Because the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the demand for software developers to grow by over 30 percent, one of the fastest projected growth rates.
So with a shrinking labor pool and increased demand, the job prospects for software developers looks good (at least in the longer term). Hopefully that means that some of the younger generation coming up through school will see this and view the field as a viable career option, reversing the downward trend of enrollment in Computer Science (and Engineering). There is some evidence this may be occurring, as for the first time in almost 6 years, enrollment in Computer Science has increased.
I’m hoping this continues, since this influx of new talent and ideas is critical to continue advancing and shaping our field in the future.
Besides, I enjoy writing software, and I’d like to continue doing it for a while…