Skills Gaps: A Review of Top 12 American States Falling Short on Programming Skills

The demand for software developers is on the rise. At least 66% up from the previous year. In this article, we dig deeper into where and why those skills gaps exist and how validating real skills can help drive quality candidates into the job market now and in the future.

America is facing its biggest cybersecurity skills crisis since the 1970s when the true birth of cybersecurity occurred. Amidst this crisis, we still see a fundamental gap in validated programming skills. Understanding programming helps cyber security experts examine software and discover security vulnerabilities, detect malicious codes, and execute tasks that involve analytical skills in cyber security.

Although not a requirement for individuals entering the cybersecurity profession for the first time, it can certainly be helpful to already develop associated knowledge of programming languages. There are at least 5 programming languages that are considered essential for cybersecurity professionals, and these include Python, Shell Scripting, HTML, JavaScript, and SQL where Python can be used to perform a multitude of cybersecurity functions, including malware analysis, scanning, and penetration testing tasks.

Programming skills are industry agnostic and considered valuable and most times even vital across multiple job functions whether it be web development, cyber sec, or software engineering. Learning how to code benefits young professionals in seeking opportunities in almost any industry. We live in a world where every organization is becoming a digital company run by or operated with some sort of software.

According to EMSI Job Posting Dashboard which tracks job posting trends by month, the occupation results for Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers demand across the United States have increased to 66% from last year:

The Transportation Equipment Manufacturing, Nonstore Retailers, Credit Intermediation and Related Activities, Telecommunications and Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing industries are experiencing the highest percentage change from last year ranging from 113% to 369%.

The states with the biggest software development talent gap with more than 15,000 new job postings from companies that are ready to hire in the last 30 days include:

Source: Emsi

Here is a quick overview of what we found happening in some of these states:

California – In California, the number of Software Developers and Applications is expected to grow much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. Jobs for Software Developers, and Applications are expected to increase by 29.0 percent, or 35,800 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

In San Diego County, the number of Software Developers and Applications is expected to grow much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. Jobs for Software Developers, and Applications are expected to increase by 15.7 percent, or 1,700 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Large growth is expected to occur as businesses, organizations, and individuals continue to adopt and integrate new technologies and maximize the efficiency of their current computer systems. Competition among businesses should create an incentive for increasingly sophisticated technological innovations; therefore, organizations will need more Applications Software Developers to implement these new technological changes.

Texas – From 2018 to 2028, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry is projected to grow by 23.6 percent, resulting in 184,615 jobs added. Establishments in this industry employ workers in many different occupations. Software Developers and Applications are projected to be the most in-demand through 2028 with estimated employment of 42,808 jobs, a growth rate of 40.5%. Projections indicate other highly skilled jobs will be for Accountants and Auditors and General and Operations Managers. Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services occupations are projected to add the most jobs in the long term than pay a wage above the state median.

Florida – The industries gaining jobs over the year included leisure and hospitality (+152,300 jobs, +14.3 percent); trade, transportation, and utilities (+118,400 jobs, +6.5 percent); professional and business services (+102,100 jobs, +7.1 percent); financial activities (+40,800 jobs, +6.6 percent); education and health services (+25,800 jobs, +1.9 percent); other services (+21,600 jobs, +6.6 percent); manufacturing (+20,700 jobs, +5.4 percent); construction (+17,100 jobs, +3.0 percent); information (+9,800 jobs, +7.3 percent); and total government (+4,000 jobs, +0.4 percent).

Washington – Computer science and mathematical occupations are the third fastest-growing occupation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates software-developer jobs will grow 21% between 2018 and 2028 (the average growth across occupations is 5%). The Washington State Employment Security Department estimates over 230,000 annual openings for IT-related occupations in 2022-2027.

New York – Private sector jobs in New York City rose by 285,000 over-the-year to 3,885,800 in April 2022. Gains occurred in leisure and hospitality (+109,600), professional and business services (+55,500), educational and health services (+41,400), trade, transportation, and utilities (+36,500), information (+18,000), other services (+14,500), financial activities (+7,700), and manufacturing (+3,900). Losses were reported in natural resources, mining, and construction (-2,100). Demand for Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers is mostly found in Central New York, Capital Region, Hudson Valley, Western New York, and New York City.

Illinois – The most lucrative industry in Illinois was the finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing industry which contributed a value of 167.91 billion chained 2012 U.S. dollars of value to the state’s GDP in 2021. In Illinois, an estimated 379,000 jobs remain unfilled, up 56.6% from the same period last year and equal to 6.1% of all jobs in the state. For context, 6.6% of jobs nationwide are unfilled.

Georgia – The BLS estimates 430 annual job openings and a total of 7,700 jobs for Georgia Computer Programmers in 2026. Nationwide, the prediction is 15,500 annual jobs and 273,600 total jobs in 2026.

North Carolina – Computer Programmers are listed 2nd and Software Developer Occupations 3rd in the top list of occupations advertised online in North Carolina in May 2022.

Virginia – The 19% job growth projected for the Information Technology cluster from 2018 to 2028 is the highest of all career clusters in Virginia. Information Security Analysts in the Network Systems pathway are projected to have the most job growth of any occupation in Virginia (45%), with more than 6,600 new jobs in this field expected by 2028. The number of jobs projected by 2028 for programming and software development is 126,169, the highest in the Information Technology Cluster.

New Jersey – Industries in the technology cluster have a high proportion of scientists, engineers, and technicians. They are primarily located in the utilities, manufacturing, information, and professional, scientific, and technical services industries. In 2020, New Jersey’s technology sector accounted for 184,395 jobs, or 5.8 percent of private Sector employment statewide.

Nationally the sector was responsible for 5.8 percent of all private sector employment. The annual average wage for the technology Sector was $146,123 in 2020 or 197.2 percent of the statewide average ($74,084) for all industries. Employers in the industry paid more than $26.9 billion in wages or about 11.3 percent of the total wages paid in all industries. Technology Sector employment can primarily be found within the following sectors: professional, scientific and technical services (76.6%), and information (23.4%).

Validated skills to support market demand

There is a strong belief that there will be some relief from the developer shortage challenge due to a newfound willingness of employers to consider non-university graduates, but the demand for developers is growing faster than the market can provide them. According to 2022 reports, America is one of the leading software development outsourcing countries worldwide. And although this is common practice among modern businesses, which want to find the best specialists at acceptable rates, quality, and in English, this could mean that the evolving process of finding talent could replace the initial instinct to outsource and look toward local talent instead.

The programming skills gaps in these 12 states should not be seen as a challenge but an opportunity for aspiring young enthusiasts to explore the possibilities of a career in computer programming.  

“Knowledge Pillars Industry Certifications/Credentials are proof of CTE students’ mastery of knowledge and skills in technology. Successful completion of these exams grants CTE students the opportunity to compete for high wage and in-demand jobs in emerging technologies”. Jill Ranucci, Ph.D., CTE Consultant and ACTE Academic Integration Lead.