Job prospects Senior Software Developer in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "senior software developer" 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 a "senior software developer" in British Columbia or across Canada.

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