Research from TECNA, Apollo Education Group and
University of Phoenix provides insights to help improve size,
quality and sustainability of software development workforce
The nonprofit Technology Councils of North America (TECNA)
recently partnered with Apollo Education Group (Nasdaq: APOL) and
its subsidiary, University of Phoenix, to conduct an in-depth study
of America’s software development talent shortage and devise
solutions for employers, educators, legislators and the
industry.
In a survey of 760 employers across 29 states in the United
States and three Canadian provinces, 83 percent of respondents
reported a shortage of software development professionals, due
mostly to the lack of qualified local talent. More than two-thirds
of the employers surveyed said they are taking action to address
the shortage by offering internships and training, and by building
professional networks.
“Software engineers are critical to the functioning of nearly
every organization and industry, so closing the talent gap is a
high priority for TECNA’s regional technology councils and the
employers we serve throughout the North American continent,” said
Bob Moore, executive director of TECNA. “Partnering with University
of Phoenix and Apollo Education Group to build learning
opportunities relevant to what employers need in their talent is a
part of the total solution.”
The research yielded additional findings about specific skill
gaps and educational requirements for software development careers.
Of those surveyed, 65 percent of employers indicated that
programming, development and engineering are critical skills for
mobile developers and 77 percent of employers indicated these
skills are critical for Application Developers/Programmers. For web
developers, 54 percent of employers noted that web design and
technologies are the most critical skills.
“TECNA and our technology council members are currently working
to address this workforce shortage in the short term by convening
workforce summits with regional stakeholders; serving as
ambassadors to potential tech employees; and in other instances
partnering with area economic development organizations to promote
the merits of a particular geographic location for companies and
talent,” said Steven G. Zylstra, TECNA chairman and president and
CEO of the Arizona Technology Council. “To identify and prepare for
future tech talent, tech councils are supporting STEM legislation,
SciTech festivals, career mentorship opportunities, and partnering
with Code.org and the Association of Science-Technology Centers to
foster hands-on, experiential STEM learning opportunities.”
Software development professionals held more than 1 million jobs
in the United States in 2012, and that number is expected to
increase by 22 percent to more than 1.2 million jobs by 2022,
significantly faster than average job growth for all occupations,
according to the U.S. Department of Labor.i
“To build a talent pipeline that can meet the demand for skilled
software engineers in the coming years, employers will need to
collaborate with educators and policymakers to ensure greater
emphasis on career-relevant education,” said Jane Oates, vice
president of External Affairs, Apollo Education Group.
In the survey, 69 percent of respondents stated that soft skills
such as communication, collaboration and problem solving are
equally important as technical skills for career success.
“Today’s software engineer professionals need more than academic
credentials; they need to be able to solve real-world problems,”
said Dennis Bonilla, executive dean of the College of Information
Systems and Technology at University of Phoenix. “By developing
coursework with input from employers, we can integrate workplace
scenarios into the learning experience and foster practical
application of skills.”
Read the full research report, Building and Sustaining Software
Development Talent, and join the conversation about talent
strategies, at www.tecna.org. For more information on industry
talent development solutions, contact Jeff Greipp, Apollo Education
Group Vice President, at jeff.greipp@apollo.edu.
About TECNA
TECNA serves its members and the industry through its strong
peer-to-peer network and its regional initiatives to raise the
visibility and viability of the technology industry. TECNA
represents more than 50 IT and Technology trade organizations who,
in turn, represent more than 22,000 technology-related companies
in North America.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working
adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly
changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses,
and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue
career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives.
As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL),
University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering
associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from
campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online
throughout the world. For more information, visit
www.phoenix.edu.
About Apollo Education Group, Inc.
Apollo Education Group, Inc. is one of the world’s largest
private education providers, serving students since 1973. Through
its subsidiaries, Apollo Education Group offers undergraduate,
graduate, professional development and other nondegree educational
programs and services, online and on-campus principally to working
learners. Its educational programs and services are offered
throughout the United States and in Europe, Australia, Latin
America, Africa and Asia, as well as online throughout the
world.
For more information about Apollo Education Group, Inc. and its
subsidiaries, call (800) 990-APOL or visit the Company’s website at
www.apollo.edu.
i U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Software Developers. Published
January 8, 2014 at
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm.
Note that these statistics are for software developers only. Job
growth for web developers is projected to be 20% over the same
period. The survey described in this document captured employer
perceptions of the talent shortage among software developers, web
developers, and mobile developers.
University of PhoenixJennifer Marshall,
847-476-2734jennifer.marshall@apollo.edu
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