Job prospects Software Programmer in Québec

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "software programmer" in Québec or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Québec

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Software developers and programmers (NOC 21232) in Quebec for the 2023-2025 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 small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Employment in this profession mainly depends on the demand for professional, scientific and technical services, and, to a lesser extent, on the video game industry. Many other sectors also hire these professionals, such as the finance, insurance, and information industries.

Rapid technological developments give these professionals a clear advantage. Many IT niche markets are expanding, including cybersecurity, cloud computing services, cryptography, mobile development or the development of applications that are more intuitive, artificial intelligence, and automation.

As well, with companies transitioning to this new digital era, research and development, robotization, and the quest for greater productivity will contribute to new positions being created.

Remote work will continue to stimulate the demand for software development and updates, which will create more jobs.

Given that the video game industry is well established in Quebec, it will continue to create job opportunities (mobile games, animation, virtual and augmented reality, etc.).

Here are some key facts about Software developers and programmers in Quebec:

• Approximately 34,450 people work in this occupation.
• Software developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 50%
  • Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 13%
  • Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (NAICS 52, 53): 10%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 94% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 6% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 76% of software developers and programmers work all year, while 24% 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 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 6% of software developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 85% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 15% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 18% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 48% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 28% compared to 11% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Québec by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "software programmer" in Québec or across Canada.

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