---
title: "Where have all the Software Development Jobs gone?"
source: "https://medium.com/womenintechnology/where-have-all-the-software-development-jobs-gone-4925e637587c"
author:
  - "[[Sarah Writtenhouse]]"
published: 2024-09-12
created: 2024-10-29
description: "Until recently, software developers have taken their high salaries and endless job options for granted. But lately there’s been a growing uneasiness among experienced developers about job security…"
tags:
  - "clippings"
---
## Tech Job Watch

## Here’s what you need to know.

[

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[

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![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/1*Xagw0P8mbb0s6rfQNrT5uw.jpeg)

Photo by [Gustavo Fring](https://www.pexels.com/photo/surprised-man-in-green-hoodie-jacket-using-a-computer-5621961/) on Pexels.com

> Not a Medium member? You can read for free by going [**here**](https://medium.com/womenintechnology/where-have-all-the-software-development-jobs-gone-4925e637587c?sk=88d399a2cb1311119e6f27e5e9901354).

==Until recently, software developers have taken their high salaries and endless job options for granted. But lately there’s been a growing uneasiness among experienced developers about job security and wage stability.==

These concerns are caused by sweeping tech layoffs that started in 2022. Since then, over half a million technical jobs have been lost and salaries have been dropping as unemployed talent floods the job market.

Not only that, ChatGPT was released at about the same time. Its ability to instantly generate elegant code set off alarms throughout the coding community compounding sinking career confidence.

## What caused the layoffs?

The pandemic shutdown triggered a huge surge in technical work as companies rushed to meet demand for remote work capabilities, telemedicine, e-commerce growth, and virtual services. But as lockdowns were lifted and projects wrapped up, technical demand fell sharply, spurring broad layoffs in April 2022.

Over the next year, more than 300,000 technical jobs were cut with far fewer new job openings. Some saw this as a sign of things to come, signaling a decline in corporate technology investment.

Fortunately, that’s not what’s happening at all. The job loss was actually an expected correction following the pandemic surge. Since then, job cuts have ramped down and leveled off to pre-pandemic rates.

You can breathe a sigh of relief because the tech industry is alive and well. But (and this is a big but), as new technology expands there are huge shifts in corporate investment. New tech jobs are pointing to major tech industry disruption and transformation.

## The Job Market is Telling Us What is Happening

There are two mega disruptors right now, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cloud Computing.

AI is forcing a shift away from routine technical activities that can be automated including software testing, technical support, data processing, basic web development, and database maintenance among others. These lower-level roles will be replaced, and more specialized roles will be created as AI is implemented.

Will software developers be replaced too? No, roles that require creativity, problem-solving and complex decision-making are not likely to be replaced by AI anytime soon. These include *Software Developers/Engineers, Data Architects, and Systems Architects,* but it won’t be business as usual for these roles.

These new AI development roles will allow seasoned developers to leverage existing programming language experience like Java, Python and C++. But they will also require an upskill to ML, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Deep Learning Frameworks like TensorFlow (Google), PyTorch (Facebook), CNTK (Microsoft) and MXNet (Amazon).

In addition to software development, other technical jobs will be impacted by AI in similar ways. New AI specialized roles will also require augmented skills. For example, current AI job postings on LinkedIn include, *AI Product Managers, AI Research Scientists, AI Solutions Architects, AI Developers/Engineers.*

This AI transformation overlaps with the *Cloud Computing* transformation taking place in parallel. New positions are being created to build AI in Azure, AWS, IBM Watson and Google Cloud platforms using integrated AI, ML services and Deep Learning Frameworks.

Cloud computing job demand continues to trend and like AI roles, these jobs are highly specialized. They require both cloud computing and AI skillsets in addition to software development expertise. These roles include *Cloud Computing Engineers*, *Cloud Automation Engineers*, and *Cloud Solutions Architects*.

Looking at these AI and Cloud Computing job postings on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/) over a 30-day period, **there are over 16,000 new job postings.** About 9,000 of these are mid-level *AI Developer* and *AI Engineering* positions**.**

Interestingly, half of these job postings were added within the last 7 days, suggesting that AI and Cloud Computing demand is ramping up.

![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/1*x8JQqXIjKC-e2xBH1XKOLw.jpeg)

Photo by [Airam Dato-on](https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-linkedin-page-on-smartphone-screen-16450744/) on Pexels.com

## If you’re still worried about your job, here’s the takeaway

There is plenty of work out there for you, but you’ll need to learn new tools and skills to stay competitive.

You wouldn’t be in this field if you didn’t love technology and the excitement that comes with it. So, buck up, train up and lean in to change if you want to be part of the transformation.

*Subscribe* to receive my ***Monthly Technology Jobs Report*** in your inbox and read the latest edition here [***Tech Job Watch — October***](https://medium.com/womenintechnology/cracking-the-code-of-the-tech-job-market-e638d4f0cb5c?sk=4cabde2df6dc645e728726dc92648315)***.***

*With over 20 years of technical industry experience,* ***Sarah Writtenhouse*** *shares her insights about job market trends, emerging technology and software development. For short articles about technology basics for Computer Science and IT students visit her blog,* [**writtenhouse tech**](https://writtenhousetechhouse.blogspot.com/)**.**