Job prospects Application Programmer in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "application programmer" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be limited for Software developers and programmers (NOC 21232) in British Columbia for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment decline will lead to the loss of some positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

• Occupations in the technology sector continue to see strong demand with a growing IT sector in British Columbia. Employment in these occupations grew significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic with a slight decline as employers adjusted to a post pandemic reality. Demand is centered in the Lower Mainland-Southwest region with a large number of technology firms having offices in Metro Vancouver.

Here are some key facts about Software developers and programmers in British Columbia:

• Approximately 21,050 people work in this occupation.
• Software developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 63%
  • Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 12%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 94% compared to 78% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 6% compared to 22% for all occupations
• 77% of software developers and programmers work all year, while 23% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 13% of software developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 82% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 18% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 11% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 13% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 52% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 23% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "application programmer" in British Columbia or across Canada.

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