Demand for Software Developers in 2025

Fact or Fiction: Software Engineers Are Getting Displaced by Cursor and Claude Code At times during 2025, the entire field of software engineering had a doomsday cloud over it: –“Thanks to Cursor and Claude Code, I can now hire 10% of the SWEs I used to need and still deliver the same roadmap velocity.” –“In a few years, companies may no longer need to hire SWEs.” Etc… But yesterday, I got a DM from a growth stage founder that suggested otherwise: –“Matt, how often does Pave update its benchmarks? Anecdotally it seems like engineer salaries in SF have gone up a bunch.” Let’s take a look at Pave's real-time market data to understand what is happening. _____________ 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴. Pave’s data science took a look at software engineering hiring rates across 8,600 clients in its real-time dataset. Two key takeaways: 1️⃣ 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴. Up to 22.77% in Q3 of 2025 from 19.32% in Q4 2023. 2️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀. For instance, the total percentage of P1s and P2s across all software engineers in Pave’s dataset decreased from 19.2% to 13.9% in the same timeframe. _____________ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗪𝗘𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗝𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆. “The Jevons Paradox describes how increased efficiency in using a resource often leads to increased, not decreased, overall consumption of that resource.” So if 10x SWEs are ROI positive to a company and Cursor transforms those 10x SWEs into 20x SWEs…suddenly, those SWEs have even more ROI. And thus, companies are incentivized to hire more SWEs. Yes, I am bullish on the future existence of software engineers in the global workforce, even as tooling like Cursor and Claude Code improve.

Hiring in 2025 wasn’t about volume. It was about precision. At nCube, the signal is clear: we’ve expanded our portfolio with 15 new clients, including 2 enterprises, 7 established mid-size companies, and 6 startups. Startups, in particular, are showing stronger access to financing and a more active push to scale compared to 2023–2024. Let’s see what’s driving the market right now. This year, I’ve noticed that organizations are shifting from “hiring more” to “hiring exactly what moves the business.” The demand is consolidating around: * full-stack engineers with Python, Java, JavaScript, Scala, RoR * data engineers and cloud engineers * Salesforce and platform specialists * AI-adjacent roles with real product impact, not “labs only” Interesting roles filled this year included PWA Front-End, Power Platform, GitLab Platform Engineer, SCADA, and Python/React/GIS. This is a clear sign that niche capability is becoming a competitive advantage. Geography continues to diversify, successfully placing candidates from: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, Spain, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Egypt, Poland, Armenia, Ukraine, and others. Global delivery is no longer a “trend”; it is the operating model. What we see ahead: trends vs antitrends 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 * specialization over generalism * outcome-based hiring tied to revenue and product milestones * distributed teams with mature remote processes * data, cloud, and AI as default parts of the stack, not experiments 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 * junior vacancies are less and less seen on the market * hiring for “bench” without a clear roadmap * inflated titles without real responsibility * generic job descriptions that don’t map to business impact * chasing hype skills without execution capability At the end of the year, my takeaway is very simple: the market is rewarding precision, resilience, and measurable outcomes. nCube - software development outsourcing and outstaffing services is doubling down on high-impact roles, strong engineering culture, and long-term partnerships, not noise. What hiring trend do you see shaping 2026?

What has Tech Hiring been like for me so far in 2025. Well.. The tech industry is still bucking the trend in the UK and is set for more growth in 2025. Many employers including us are planning to expand teams despite economic uncertainties. This year, the demand for skilled professionals remains high, particularly in areas like AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. Current Trends: · High Demand for Skills: The most sought-after skills include AI, cloud computing, DevOps, Python, and machine learning. Companies are focusing on roles in data, AI, cyber, and cloud to stay competitive in the evolving tech landscape. · Competitive Market: Reviewing the market 76% of technology hiring managers are finding recruitment to be very competitive. The shortage of skilled candidates remains a primary challenge. · Salary and Benefits: The median salary for tech roles in the UK is approximately £44,949. Flexibility, such as remote work options, continues to be a top priority for tech professionals, with many willing to forgo a pay raise for the ability to work from home or hybrid agreements. Looking Ahead: · Growth Opportunities: The tech sector is projected to grow faster than the overall employment rate across the economy over the next decade. This presents numerous opportunities for both job seekers and employers. · Regional Insights: London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Leeds are leading the way with the highest concentrations of tech employment. These cities are becoming tech hubs, attracting top talent and driving innovation.

Computer programming (coding) is not equal to software development. That distinction is captured in Bureau of Labor Statistics data and reinforces my suspicion that those employed in roles where AI automates most of what they have been trained to do will be displaced (no duh) while very similar roles that are about more than the AI-automated tasks will thrive and do even more. Computer programmers and software developers are codified differently in the BLS data. The modern AI-infused world needs less computer programmers (coders) and more software developers (more holistic and higher level). So when folks say that there is less hiring of computer programmers, they are right. But there will be more hiring of software developers, especially those who have adopted an AI-forward mindset and skillset. Here's the data:   The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that software developers will be among the country’s fastest-growing occupations over the 2023–2033 decade, whereas computer programmers will see continued decline. Despite emerging Generative AI tools that can assist with coding, software developers’ employment is expected to increase ~18% (adding ~304,000 jobs). In contrast, computer programmers are projected to shrink by about 9–10% (losing ~13,000 jobs).    From the report: "Although it is always possible that AI-induced productivity improvements will outweigh continued labor demand, there is no clear evidence to support this conjecture. Given these considerations, BLS projects employment of software developers to increase 17.9 percent between 2023 and 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations (4.0 percent)." And note, the number of just pure computer programming roles has already been declining due to reasons like outsourcing, AI will just accelerate the decline. I do believe in the idea that current software developers will go more full stack, so I do wonder if the BLS projections might change in a couple of years when large companies realize they can do more with less people. Startups already know this. https://lnkd.in/eP6ivWjg

0. More than 36 million new developers joined GitHub in 2025 (that’s like one new developer every second this year) 1. The total developer community on GitHub now crossed 180 million globally 2. India alone added over 5 million developers, one of the fastest growth rates in the world 3. Developers are creating millions of new repositories every day, pushing more code than ever before. If you think tech is slowing down… That data just proved you wrong. Here’s what this really means: 👉 This is the best time to be a software engineer. Not tomorrow. Not next year. Right now. Demand is not going down. It’s exploding. Not just for coders… but for smart engineers who can think, solve problems, write scalable code, and ship products. AI might write some code for you. But it can’t replace thinking, ownership, product sense, debugging skills, and real engineering experience. Real engineers will always be in demand, and 2026 is going to be a huge year for jobs and opportunities. If you’re learning: • Stay consistent. • Focus on fundamentals. • Build real projects. • Get familiar with modern tools. • Understand how to work with AI, not run away from it. This industry is moving fast. If you grow fast with it, the rewards will be massive. If you stay still, you’ll feel left behind. The key is simple: Learn deeply. Build consistently. And adapt quickly. Because the world need more Good Engineers, and at a scale we’ve never seen before. Cheers, Akshay Saini 🚀

India’s Tech Hiring Trends 2025: What Roles Are in Demand? India’s job market in 2025 is being shaped by a wave of technological transformation. From startups to global firms, organizations are reimagining their workforce, driven by the rapid rise of AI, cloud, and cybersecurity. For tech professionals, this is not just growth—it’s an inflection point. Here’s a quick dive into what’s driving demand and where the opportunities lie: What’s Fueling Tech Hiring? AI Isn’t Just a Buzzword AI/ML Engineers are in high demand, with a 75% surge in hiring. Skills in LLMs, GenAI, and model deployment are game-changers. Cloud Is the New Normal Cloud Architects, DevOps Engineers, and SREs top the hiring charts. AWS, Azure, Kubernetes, and Terraform are now core skills. GCCs Expanding Fast Global Capability Centers are scaling tech teams across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Gurugram—especially in engineering, product, and data roles. Cybersecurity as a Priority With rising digital threats, Cybersecurity Specialists and CloudSec Engineers are now boardroom hires. Full-Stack Builders in Demand Companies are looking for developers who can ship scalable, cloud-native platforms using React, Node.js, APIs, and microservices. Hottest Tech Roles in 2025 AI/ML Engineer – Python, LLMs, GenAI Cloud Architect – AWS/Azure, IaC, K8s Data Scientist – SQL, Python, BI tools Cybersecurity Specialist – CloudSec, SIEM, SOC Ops Full Stack Developer – React, Node, Microservices DevOps/SRE – Docker, Terraform, CI/CD Generative AI Developer – LangChain, Prompt Engg, OpenAI Rising Roles to Watch Prompt Engineers LLM Integration Specialists Edge Computing Developers Robotics Engineers HealthTech AI Specialists GreenTech Data Experts India’s Tech Hotspots Bengaluru – AI/ML, DeepTech Hyderabad – Cloud, Biotech Gurugram – Fintech, Security Pune & Chennai – Mobility, Embedded Tech The Skills Gap Only 43% of tech graduates are job-ready. Companies are doubling down on practical upskilling, certifications, and industry exposure to bridge this gap. Final Thought 2025 is India’s deep-tech moment. Whether you're a job seeker, builder, or hiring leader - AI, cloud, and cybersecurity are where the future is being written. Let’s connect. Drop your thoughts or hiring insights in the comments.

The Software Developer Job Market in South Africa is looking very good for 2025. It is expected to experience significant growth, with the highest demand being for Software Developers with AI and Machine Learning skills. But there are caveats which (as a developer) you need to be aware of: 1/ The integration of AI into software development has already transformed traditional developer roles. Developers will spend less time on routine coding tasks - which will be automated by AI tools - and more time overseeing AI-generated code to ensure it meets quality and security standards.   2/ There will be a strong shift towards DevOps Platforms. 3/ The software developer population is on the rise therefore, over time, will result in more developers entering the market. 4/ In South Africa, the tech industry is experiencing growth with a rising demand for skilled software developers. One would therefore expect salary inflation across the board, however regional challenges will likely put the brakes on this.   5/ With the rise of AI tech transforming many aspects of software development, (automating routine tasks), this shift will lead to a reevaluation of salary structures with increased compensation for roles that require advanced problem-solving and oversight of AI-generated outputs. Essentially, the degree of salary growth will vary based on factors such as specialisation, experience, and regional market conditions. The strongest demand for software developers in 2025 will be for full-stack developers, data scientists, cybersecurity analysts, and cloud solutions architects - but unless regional economic conditions improve the demand might not translate to significant salary inflation. If conditions in South Africa remain in limbo I expect entry-level developers to see a decrease in salaries of 3.5% in comparison to 2024, and juniors will only receive a nominal 1% increase in comparison to 2024.   But it’s the intermediate-level developer salaries that are most at risk of not increasing or potentially decreasing – a consequence of emerging AI integration and also the fact that salary inflation achieved for intermediates over the last 4 years will be unsustainable going forward if their employers revenues are negatively affected by government failures and/or a declining Rand-to-Dollar value. All-in-all though, 2025 will be a very positive year for developers.  My advice however is to move jobs for primarily the technical opportunity, and to be realistic that moving jobs might not result in a significant salary increase.   

Some big tech companies and startups often claim that roles such as software and data engineers will become obsolete soon, a narrative perhaps driven by the need to justify higher valuations to investors. However, contrary to these claims, the World Economic Forum projected that engineering, data, and AI jobs will be among the fastest-growing by 2030. At Burtch Works we are experiencing an sharp increase in hiring demand and recently launched our 2025 1H hiring survey which will provide additional stimulus on demand trends that we’ll share with our community in a few weeks. Despite advancements in AI and large language models (LLMs), these technologies are not close to replacing critical workloads; their main function remains language interpretation rather than producing deterministic outcomes. The demand for skilled engineering, data, and AI labor is increasing, highlighting the evolving need for not only technical skills but also problem-solving and critical thinking to accurately deliver desired business outcomes.