Coding the innovation of the future: a portrait of the new programmer
Between lines of code and proofs of concept, programmers never stop evolving. The progression towards mature artificial intelligence systems, new environments such as the metaverse or the rise of technologies such as blockchain require these professionals, who are increasingly in demand, to acquire knowledge, use cutting-edge tools and specialise.
A booming sector 💻🌍
The digitalisation of companies due to the pandemic increased the demand for programming professionals, a trend that will continue.
- 31 million programmers worldwide
- 45 million programmers by 2030
The developer’s profile: young, educated… and male 🎓
A sector linked to innovation is an ideal breeding ground for adding young talent, but there is still progress to be made in gender equality.
Predominance of professionals under 35 years of age
- Under 18 years old: 2.8%
- 18-24 years old: 29.9%
- 25-34 years old: 31.9%
- 35-44 years old: 21.3%
- 45-54 years old: 9.4%
- Others: 4.7%
With university education
- Bachelor’s degree: 42,4%
- Master’s Degree: 21%
- Non-degree university studies: 12,7%
- Secondary education: 11,4%
- Other studies: 12,5%
And it’s all men
- Men : 81,7 %
- Female : 17,1%
Initiatives to boost visibility of and support for women programmers:
Programming branches 🌳
Most-employed developer profiles, according to developers:
- ‘Full-stack’: 49,4% | In charge of back-end and front-end.
- ‘Back-end’: 43,7% | Work on the server side.
- ‘Front-end’: 27,4% | Deal with the user interface.
- ‘Desktop’: 16,6% | Development for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Mobile: 14,7% | Create solutions on iOS and Android.
Other related roles:
- Cybersecurity expert. Responsible for the security of the company’s computer systems and networks to solve and avoid vulnerabilities.
- DevOps Specialist. Link between software developers and IT teams to unify and automate processes.
- Data Scientist. Manages and interprets large volumes of data to turn them into useful assets for the company.
- Expert in machine learning. Responsible for developing machine learning algorithms to create predictions.
- Cloud engineer. Manages, designs and monitors cloud systems, and also guides the company to adapt to this type of environment.
A summary of skills: code snipping isn’t everything 👩💻
Programming requires proficiency in several languages, an eye for the latest trends and soft skills.
Which programming languages are most popular?
64% of professionals like a particular language because of the ecosystem: the libraries are well updated and useful to them.
- Python
- JavaScript
- Java
- TypeScript
- C#
- Go
- HTML
- C++
- Ruby
- C
What are the latest trends to develop your work?
‘Low code’ and ‘no code’. Tools to create applications or automate tasks in an intuitive way to launch prototypes and streamline processes.
API. Using application programming interfaces enables collaboration between professionals and speeds up work.
Automation. Some platforms allow you to automate tasks to avoid errors and check lines of code.
Cloud. The giants’ applications help them reduce costs and maximise their time, in addition to offering them specific resources.
Which technologies should you track?
- Artificial intelligence and big data. To create predictive and problem-solving systems on their own.
- Metaverse. virtual and augmented reality. To develop specific applications in new virtual environments.
- Web3. To store information safely thanks to blockchain.
- Quantum computing. To build and design new products that apply quantum technologies
Beyond technique… What other skills do you need to develop?
- Communication. On a day-to-day basis, you must coordinate with various teams.
- Flexibility. High capacity to adapt to change and speed to develop MVP (minimum viable products).
- Leadership. To lead the development of the digital product and to collect all the functionalities.
- Creativity. Approaching tasks differently is key to creating customised digital products.
- Emotional intelligence. It is advisable to maintain control in challenging situations, such as solving problems and web crashes.
Constant learning 👩🏫
Programming is a task that requires constant training.
Ways to learn to program
Most programmers acquire new web development skills through online sites.
- Vídeos and blogs: 59,5%
- Formal education: 53,5%
- Books and physical media: 51,5%
- Online courses: 40,3%
- Online forums: 31,6%
Free platforms to get started
In addition to bootcamps, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, there are platforms for learning to program for free:
- Codeacademy
- Code.org
- Coursera
- Freecode Camp
- BBVA has recently reached an agreement with Code.org to promote programming among the sons and daughters of employees
Websites for sharing and testing
Whether to continue learning or to improve their projects, developers have several alternatives for exchanging knowledge.
Innovating by cracking code 🔑🔓
Software developers shape the next digital products. Without their work, decoding the innovations of the future would be nearly impossible.
Do you want to test your knowledge as a programmer?
The BBVA 2022 Hackathon will take place on 21st, 22nd and 23rd October. The bank’s units will test your skills with challenges that you will have to solve in multidisciplinary teams.
Register for the BBVA Hackathon!
Sources: DeveloperNation, Randstad, Deloitte, Glassdoor, Hired, Stackoverflow, IDC, BBVA, Forbes y US Bureau of Labor Satistics.
