The future of software development talent

April 25, 2022

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For over 10 years, software developers have been one of the most difficult professions to fill in the United States, so it’s no surprise that the developer shortage is poised to worsen, with fresh estimates predicting a 35% gap by 2025. Every industry in the U.S., including the technology industry and software engineering, has been affected by the labor crisis. Because of higher productivity and labor cost inflation of up to 3.5%, analysts from Insider predict salaries to expand by roughly 5% year over year by the end of 2022. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for everyone who is or wants to be a software developer.

So, what skills are being valued in the hiring processes of successful companies nowadays?

First of all, to know the fundamentals of building software, not only how to manage algorithms, but be familiar with operating systems, software packages, source, and executable coding; beyond that, mastering several key programming languages (Java, SQL, JavaScript, Python, Microsoft C#). But these are only the basics.

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Apart from knowing the fundamentals of software engineering and development, software developers might occasionally lose sight of the connection between product and business. For companies, it is extremely valuable the plus a candidate might present from acknowledging core business concepts, such as administration, sales, and marketing basics. As developers have a very clear understanding and connection to the product, some insights they can grasp and obtain are precious for content and sales strategy in companies.

Moreover, in the technology industry, digital talent longs for developers that are highly skilled. Some enterprises offer programs such as in-job training about the newest trends, but for being recruited the candidates must be up to par with the technological status quo and keep taking courses independently. 

Lastly, companies must look up for not only hard and striking abilities and licenses, but also search for soft skills as well. They are: Communication skills, logical thinking, troubleshooting, analytical skills, initiative, teamwork, adaptability, and writing skills. 

What to expect regarding salaries?

The contrast between salaries in the US and Mexico is palpable. The Great Resignation, the phenomenon that started in the fourth quarter of 2021 in the U.S., is now spreading the world affecting company costs and setting them to a maximum in terms of salaries, and software engineers are not an exception. For reference, according to the most recent Dice Tech Pay Report, the average technologist salary is $104,566, up 6.9% between 2020 and 2021, and this is not slowing down in 2022. For companies it is turning more and more expensive to hire the best talent.

Now, is much cheaper contracting Mexican talent. Mexico is flooded with top software development talent; more individuals now have the means and equipment to increase their knowledge as a consequence of the Mexican government’s recent infrastructure and educational upgrades. Between 2006 and 2012, the Mexican government created 120 tuition-free specialized technology institutions to demonstrate its commitment to addressing the country’s technological skills shortfall. In Mexico, about 160,000 engineers graduate each year. Mexico has become a powerhouse of software engineering expertise in Latin America, with a talent pool of over 700,000 engineers according to Forbes.