Software Developers Are Among The Fastest Growing Occupations In San Francisco
One clear indicator that the San Francisco economy is booming is the sheer number of construction projects currently underway in the city. With the Great Recession being a thing of the past, much of the credit to this unprecedented economic surge goes to the tech industry.
According to a recent report from the California Employment Development Department (EDD), the software developer segment of the tech industry is expected to be among the fastest growing occupations from 2010-2020. This segment is also ranked high for the most job openings in that same time period. Of course, this occupation is also among the highest paid positions in the Bay Area.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes software developers as the "creative of minds behind computer programs." With a job outlook for this occupation projected to grow a phenomenal 22 percent from the period 2012-2022, a career as a software developer can be extremely lucrative. Among the varied tasks a software developer might do includes designing, testing and developing software to meet consumer needs and working with other specialists for companies ranging from promising start-ups to major tech firms.
Despite this growing trend in hiring more talented Bay Area tech workers, the overall tech industry remains fiercely competitive. In fact, in a recent tally from career website Glassdoor, the most difficult companies to interview for are Silicon Valley companies like Google, Facebook and Apple and San Francisco-based companies such as LinkedIn and Twitter.
Prospective software developers can greatly improve their chances of getting hired by a San Francisco tech company by getting an excellent education. In the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for software developers, this occupation typically requires a bachelor's degree, but employers prefer a master's degree for many positions.
As demand for computer software increases, particularly in mobile technology, the job outlook for software developers will remain far higher than the national average. With that in mind, job seekers can be best served by continuing to develop their skills through hard work and advanced education. That hard work could possibly pay off in one of the country's most rewarding positions.
Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he was awarded a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com Examiner.com.
