Software developers and programmers
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Software developers and programmers analyze, design, write and test code for new software and systems. They also diagnose and fix technical issues to ensure that programs run properly.
This group includes interactive media developers, including computer game developers.
Job Titles
Duties
In general, software developers and programmers:
- Communicate with clients to understand their needs
- Write and test code for new software applications using different computer languages
- Develop applications according to technical specifications
- Research and review new technologies
- Make sure that systems and software run efficiently
- Solve technical issues
- Assess relationships between programs, such as whether a change to one would cause unwanted results in another
- Write documentation for new and updated software
Interactive media developers:
- Program animation software for interactive forms of media, like video games and mobile apps
- Program special-effects software for film, TV and video, and for online and mobile apps
- Develop gameplay features
- Write, edit and test software code for e-commerce and other online and mobile apps
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
12,490% Employed Full Time
73%Software developers and programmers work in the private and public sectors. They work for software, computer and video game development companies. They also work in consulting firms and in the information technology (IT) and other departments of larger organizations.
The work is analytical and precise. It also requires creativity, patience and the determination to solve problems. Updating or testing code can be a long process that demands careful attention to detail.
Software developers and programmers spend a lot of time at computers. They often work long hours to meet release dates or fix issues. They must take care to avoid straining their eyes, back, neck, shoulders and other joints.
They usually work in teams, so communication is key. Some are able to work remotely or from home.
Career Pathways
Software developers and programmers can choose from many career paths. They can focus on areas like computer games, e-business software, multimedia or project management.
Many begin their careers as junior developers or programmers or in quality assurance (QA).
With experience, they may move into more senior roles, take on more responsibility, oversee projects and supervise staff. Some become senior software architects or engineers. Others move from software developers to systems developers.
Those with strong business knowledge might become the chief information officer (CIO) or chief executive officer (CEO) of a software company. Some start their own businesses.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Most jobs need a diploma or bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering or another programming-related area.
Workers who specialize in engineering- or scientific-related programming need relevant post-secondary education or experience. Some employers may need workers to have knowledge of or certification in specific programming languages.
This field is always advancing. Workers must continue learning and upgrading their skills to keep up with technology. Often, employers pay for this training.
Workers also need good communication skills so they can explain technical problems and solutions to other developers and programmers and peoplewho might not have a technical background.
Experienced workers can apply for Information Systems Professional (ISP) designation through Canada's Association of Information Technology (IT) Professionals (CIPS).
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Computer Information Systems/Science
- Math/Statistics Related (Arts)
- Computing Science/Systems Related
- Math/Statistics (Science)
- Information Technology Management
- Pre-press/Desktop Publishing/Digital Imaging Design
- Integrated/Multimedia
- Web Technologies
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Writing computer programs for various purposes.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations and the environment will affect outcomes.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Analyzing operational and product needs to create a design.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
12,490Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | 0.2% |
| Kootenay | 85 | 0.7% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 9,870 | 79.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 0.2% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 735 | 5.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 1,760 | 14.1% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
8,940Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | 70 | 1.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 7,280 | 3.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 540 | 2.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 1,050 | 2.6% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 7,630 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 380 |
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | 200 |
| Retail Trade | 190 |
| Wholesale Trade | 130 |
Insights from Industry
Demand for software developers and programmers is strong and continues to grow. Demand is especially high for workers skilled in complex programming languages.
At the same time, the need for workers to do routine and repetitive tasks has decreased, since software can now write basic code and organizations can use automated testing programs. This shows the importance of keeping skills current to stay competitive.
Interactive media continues to increase in popularity. It covers a wide range of products, from customizable multimedia for training and presentations to web-accessible databases. Workers who specialize in this area and have information-design skills are expected to be in high demand.
Resources
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BC Tech Associationwww.wearebctech.com
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Canada's Association of I.T. Professionalswww.cips.ca
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Canada's Association of Information Technology (IT) Professionals - British Columbiawww.bc.cips.ca
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The Canadian Advanced Technology Allianceinnovationsoftheworld.com/canadian-advanced-technology
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Creative Technology Association of British Columbia (DigiBC)www.digibc.org
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Engineering Technology Canadawww.engineeringtechnologycanada.ca/en/CTINlanding
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First Nations Technology Councilwww.technologycouncil.ca
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Information and Communications Technology Councilwww.ictc-ctic.ca
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Information Resource Management Association of Canadawww.irmac.ca
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Information Systems Audit and Control Associationwww.isaca.org
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Technation.ca formerly the Information Technology Association of Canadaitac.ca
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a software developer is like.
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a software developer is like.
