Developers are disappearing. Not literally, but over recent years it’s become harder for companies to hire the people behind the code. Currently, nearly four million technical jobs are unfilled – and predictions state that by 2030, there’ll be a global shortage of 85 million software engineers.
The rapid digital transformation spurred on by the pandemic has meant that online services and products have scaled around the world, and users want more technical solutions to carry out their daily activities. That spells great news for tech companies’ growth but creating teams to realize such solutions isn’t straightforward. Compounded by the Great Resignation, tech talent is in short supply and has continued to dwindle.
Yet, the answer to the tech talent shortage may already be at our fingertips. Here’s the rundown on the tech talent squeeze, and one possible way to alleviate the situation.
Why is There a Tech Talent Shortage?
We’ve been seeing a tech talent crunch for a number of years and for a number of reasons. The first is that there aren’t sufficient people graduating college with the technical qualifications and skills to fill the number of open tech vacancies. In short, the demand is outstripping the supply. There also aren’t enough incentives to encourage people to enter technical studies, especially in underrepresented demographics.
At the same time, tech workers tend to jump ship regularly. Because of their desired skill set, they receive multiple job offers and are constantly sought after, so they can negotiate high wages and better perks. For smaller companies that can’t compete with corporate offerings, finding and retaining talent can be a big problem.
What’s the Impact of Tech Talent Shortages on Technology Companies?
Not having the people you need to build the technical infrastructure has real repercussions on business. The most notable is the effect on company revenue – nowadays, the majority of operations run on software, and if no one can develop, maintain or provide these services, a backlog emerges or processes can stop altogether.
Elsewhere, not being able to recruit tech workers can slow innovation in the company. Tech teams are responsible for bringing fresh perspectives, experimenting with new technologies, and contributing to companies’ competitive advantage in their markets. In fact, over 50% of CIOs say that the lack of tech skills makes it difficult to keep up with new technologies, while 60% say it’s made keeping up with competitors more challenging.
Then there’s the risk with cybersecurity. This sector is one of the most difficult to hire for, and as digital threats become more sophisticated and security breaches more commonplace, companies have to prioritize their online security. Without the right people at the helm, companies are more vulnerable to attacks from malicious players. It’s concerning then, that the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs worldwide grew 350% between 2013 and 2021.
Tech Talent Solutions: Where Low Code/No Code Fits
With so many moving parts to the tech talent shortage, it’s unlikely that there’ll be an all-encompassing solution. However, there are steps that can provide relief for companies and lay down the foundation for positive change in how tech workers are generated.
Citizen development is worthwhile because companies can encourage existing, non-tech employees to enter the software space, using low code/no code platforms to build applications. Moreover, citizen development means businesses can create solutions that are more closely aligned with their needs, and issues can be solved more acutely because the people developing the solution are the ones who most deeply understand the problem.
With citizen development, companies don’t need to hire externally. Citizen development relies on internal employees and in some cases, can eliminate the need for developers in certain areas entirely. With more people who are already familiar with operations working on the technical backbone, more business gaps are closed, and the return on investment can be significantly higher.
Low code/no code platforms play a big role in citizen development because they supply a visual environment for citizen devs to build in. With these platforms, people who may not have the same technical expertise as an engineer can drag and drop applications, connect them, and form web and mobile applications.
How to Empower Citizen Developers
Companies should take care to encourage employees to start their citizen developer journey, and nurture them as they go through it. Begin by offering the PMI Citizen Developer Foundation course. The online class introduces the concept of citizen development and has a range of educational resources to get to grips with low-code/no-code platforms.
Businesses also need to carefully select which low code/no code platform fits with their workers’ needs and their company goals. TrackVia has frequently been recognized as one of the most streamlined and user-friendly application development platforms available, and we provide a free 30-day trial for people to see for themselves.
Beyond these tools, organizations have to be open to allowing workers to solve problems with low code/no code development software. Cultivating citizen developers won’t happen overnight – they need time to learn, do, and review. Remember to give people time and autonomy, and to get your tech team involved in the process. The more they can give feedback, the better optimized your workflows and low code/no code platforms will be, which despite a tech talent shortage, can lead to an abundance of success.
Start your free TrackVia demo now to curate your next generation of citizen developers.
