Career Path Forecast
 According
to the U.S. Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics,
employment of computer software engineers is expected to increase by 32
percent from 2008-2018, which is much faster than the average for all
occupations. In addition, this occupation will see a large number of new
jobs, with more than 295,000 created between 2008 and 2018.
Demand for computer
software engineers will increase as computer networking continues to
grow. For example, expanding Internet technologies have spurred demand
for computer software engineers who can develop Internet, intranet, and
World Wide Web applications. Likewise, electronic data-processing
systems in business, telecommunications, healthcare, government, and
other settings continue to become more sophisticated and complex.
Implementing, safeguarding, and updating computer systems and resolving
problems will fuel the demand for growing numbers of systems software
engineers.
 New
growth areas will also continue to arise from rapidly evolving
technologies. The increasing uses of the Internet, the proliferation of
Web sites, and mobile technology such as the wireless Internet have
created a demand for a wide variety of new products. As more software is
offered over the Internet, and as businesses demand customized software
to meet their specific needs, applications and systems software
engineers will be needed in greater numbers. In addition, the growing
use of handheld computers will create demand for new mobile applications
and software systems. As these devices become a larger part of the
business environment, it will be necessary to integrate current computer
systems with this new, more mobile technology.
In addition, information security concerns have given rise to new
software needs. Concerns over “cyber security” should result in the
continued investment in software that protects computer networks and
electronic infrastructure. The expansion of this technology over the
next 10 years will lead to an increased need for software engineers to
design and develop secure applications and systems, and to integrate
them into older systems.
As with other information technology jobs, offshore outsourcing may
temper employment growth of computer software engineers. Firms may look
to cut costs by shifting operations to foreign countries with lower
prevailing wages and highly educated workers. Jobs in software
engineering are less prone to being offshored than are jobs in computer
programming, however, because software engineering requires innovation
and intense research and development.
 Employment
of computer programmers is expected to decline slowly, decreasing by 3
percent from 2008 to 2018. Advances in programming languages and tools,
the growing ability of users to write and implement their own programs,
and the offshore outsourcing of programming jobs will contribute to this
decline.
Because they can transmit their programs digitally, computer programmers
can perform their job function from anywhere in the world, allowing
companies to employ workers in countries that have lower prevailing
wages. Computer programmers are at a much higher risk of having their
jobs offshored than are workers involved in more complex and
sophisticated information technology functions, such as software
engineering. Much of the work of computer programmers requires little
localized or specialized knowledge and can be made routine once
knowledge of a particular programming language is mastered.
Nevertheless, employers will continue to need some local programmers,
especially those who have strong technical skills and who understand an
employer's business and its programming requirements. This means that
programmers will have to keep abreast of changing programming languages
and techniques. Furthermore, a recent trend of domestic sourcing may
help to keep a number of programming jobs onshore. Instead of hiring
workers in foreign locations, some organizations have begun to contract
with programmers in low-cost areas of the United States. This allows
them to reduce payroll expenses, while eliminating some of the
logistical issues that arise with offshore outsourcing.
 As
a result of rapid employment growth over the 2008 to 2018 decade, job
prospects for computer software engineers should be excellent. Those
with practical experience and at least a bachelor's degree in a
computer-related field should have the best opportunities. Employers
will continue to seek computer professionals with strong programming,
systems analysis, interpersonal, and business skills. In addition to
jobs created through employment growth, many job openings will result
from the need to replace workers who move into managerial positions,
transfer to other occupations, or leave the labor force. Consulting
opportunities for computer software engineers also should continue to
grow as businesses seek help to manage, upgrade, and customize their
increasingly complicated computer systems.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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