Software developers and programmers

Nova Scotia

The employment outlook will be Good for software developers and programmers (NOC 21232) in Nova Scotia for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to several new positions.A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.This is a large occupation group, in which much of the work is found in Halifax as it offers a wide variety of potential employers across industries, including video game development. Job opportunities occur regularly, and those with the high level of specific skills will have an easier time in finding employment. Some lower-level programming tasks are increasingly being handled by artificial intelligence (AI). This has both softened the demand for junior workers and increased the need for candidates to keep up with rapidly evolving skills related to building and modifying AI models.Graduates of advanced co-op programs will have the most success in breaking into the workforce. Remote hiring is common in the information technology field, so jobseekers may benefit from including remote opportunities in their job search.Here are some key facts about software developers and programmers in Nova Scotia: Approximately 3,750 people work in this occupation. Software developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors: Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 65%Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 6% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 93% compared to 82% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 7% compared to 18% for all occupations77% of software developers and programmers work all year, while 23% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% 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.9% of software developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 86% compared to 51% for all occupations Women: 14% compared to 49% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 11% compared to 27% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 22% compared to 22% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 46% compared to 20% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 21% compared to 10% for all occupations

British Columbia

The employment outlook will be Moderate for software developers and programmers (NOC 21232) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to several new positions.Not many positions will become available due to retirements.There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.A growing tech sector, advancements in robotics and new innovation hubs, could create job opportunities.  Employment in this sector has fluctuated throughout 2025, as a tough investment climate and high interest on loans led some companies to reduce their workforce.  Employment opportunities are centered in the Lower Mainland-Southwest region, as many companies have headquarters offices in Metro Vancouver; Victoria and the Okanagan are also emerging as tech hubs.  Occupations that create automation systems include engineering, technology, and data science fields.  These roles are central to designing, building, and maintaining automated processes in industries like manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and IT.  Some analytical duties of this occupation are likely to change with adoption of digital innovations, which may enable workers to do their jobs more efficiently.  Examples include cloud computing to improve data management and analysis (for example forecasting, optimizing, natural language processing), and blockchain for transparent and secure digital transactions.  Some technology companies, particularly software engineering teams, are transforming to adapt to AI as a product feature and to replace staff as a central operational strategy.Here are some key facts about software developers and programmers in British Columbia: Approximately 26,650 people work in this occupation. Software developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors: Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 66%Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 9% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 94% compared to 78% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 6% compared to 22% for all occupations77% 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

Prince Edward Island

The employment outlook will be Moderate for software developers and programmers (NOC 21232) in Prince Edward Island for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.Not many positions will become available due to retirements.There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.The prospect for employment in this occupation is expected to be favorable, with software developers and programmers working in sectors like IT consulting, finance, government, gaming, and healthcare. They design, write, test, and maintain code for software applications and systems. While low-code platforms and automation tools have simplified some programming tasks, the need for skilled developers remains strong—especially those proficient in modern languages like Python, JavaScript, and SQL. Employment growth in this occupation will be driven by digital transformation, cybersecurity, and AI integration. Many roles are contract-based or project-specific, offering flexibility but requiring continuous skill upgrades. Individuals should focus on building a strong technical portfolio, developing communication and teamwork skills, and staying current with emerging technologies to stay competitive in this evolving field. Here are some key facts about software developers and programmers in Prince Edward Island: Approximately 350 people work in this occupation. Software developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors: Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 79%Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 12%Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 6% 80% of software developers and programmers work all year, while 20% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.16% of software developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 86% compared to 51% for all occupations Women: 14% compared to 49% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: n/a high school diploma or equivalent: 6% compared to 28% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 42% compared to 25% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 38% compared to 17% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 12% compared to 8% for all occupations