Labor shortages plague the tech industry. Software development companies feel the weight of these challenges more than most, and many are taking the wrong approach to fix them.
Recruiting skilled developers has been IT leaders’ top challenge for two straight years, but focusing on new hires isn’t the solution. The developer labor market is highly competitive, and turnover is high. Consequently, it may be more helpful to focus on retaining current devs instead of finding people to replace them.
To help, here are the most common reasons why developers quit and how you can address them.
1. Culture Issues
More than 25% of developers in 2023 cited a lack of engineering culture as their reason for leaving. Another 21.4% said it was because they had no say in the company’s direction, and nearly 19% cited micromanaging concerns.
What do all of these factors have in common? They’re all cultural issues. A poor developer culture leads to turnover, so it holds that a more positive environment will prevent it.
What You Can Do About It
Fostering a positive workplace culture is largely about listening to employees. In that same survey, 18% of devs said they want more communication from leaders. Transparency in the company’s direction and clear DEI policies also ranked highly.
Managers should make devs of all levels part of the conversation in company matters. That means not just telling them what’s happening but taking their feedback into consideration for matters of policy and future projects.
Enabling creativity and challenge will help, too. Upskilling opportunities are a great solution, as 67% of employees today want to advance their careers. Allowing devs to pursue personal projects during some periods can help, too.
2. Sub-Par Compensation
As you might expect, compensation is another leading reason why developers quit their jobs. This isn’t unique to the software industry — over 39% of all employees consider career changes to earn a higher salary — but devs may take it more seriously.
Tech skills are in dire demand, and IT workloads are high. Consequently, developers understandably want better pay and benefits to reflect the value they bring to their companies.
What You Can Do About It
The simplest solution here is to pay developers more. Start by looking at the current job market to set a baseline for a competitive rate. Don’t stop there, though. Look at the work your developers do and quantify its value to determine how much they should earn with respect to what they do for the company.
Remember, compensation is about more than a higher salary. Consider how benefits like better health insurance or more paid vacation time could make dev positions more appealing. These are easier to overlook but can make up for a lower base salary. That’s especially true for the 15.9% of developers who work as independent contractors, as benefits may not increase taxes like wages.
3. Stress and Burnout
The third big reason devs leave their position is because they feel burnt out. Ongoing labor shortages often mean smaller teams have to accomplish more work, leading to heightened stress.
Security alert fatigue is a similar issue. More than half of IT security decision-makers say their teams feel overwhelmed by alert volumes.
What You Can Do About It
The first part of addressing this issue is decreasing the causes of this stress and burnout. Automating repetitive tasks is an essential step, as it will minimize your devs’ workloads.
Software engineers get to spend just 10 hours a week on deep, focused work on average. The rest of their time goes to testing, waiting for reviews, and repetitive administrative tasks. These workflows are also easily automatable with off-the-shelf AI solutions. The less time your devs have to spend on this nonengaging work, the more satisfied and less stressed they’ll feel.
Next, consider strategies to combat the stress that inevitably arises. That same survey found that most software engineers say a fully remote or hybrid work environment is the most productive. Embracing this flexibility could help. Alternatively, you could provide paid professional development days to give devs time to unwind when tensions are high.
Put an End to Developer Churn
Businesses that want to mitigate the developer shortage should start by investing in their current employees. That means addressing all three of these common causes of churn. Fostering a positive workplace culture, offering competitive compensation, and reducing workloads will work wonders for dev turnover.
Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own.
FAQs
Developers most often quit for culture issues, sub-par compensation, or stress and burnout. Here's how you can address each issue. Labor shortages plague the tech industry. Software development companies feel the weight of these challenges more than most, and many are taking the wrong approach to fix them.
Are coders losing their jobs? ›
The demand for innovative software solutions will only continue to grow. While low-level developer tasks will be increasingly automated, there will still be a demand for developers who understand coding to guide the AI systems and ensuring that they do what we want them to do.
Why do people quit coding jobs? ›
Coding anxiety
It's not easy to deal with anxiety, and when you don't find a way around it, you may feel you have no other choice but to give up. Coding anxiety is common among many coders.
How long will software developers be in demand? ›
The Previously Red-Hot Market
Looking back just a few years ago, a vastly different picture emerges. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasted that employment of software developers would grow 25% from 2021 to 2031.
Are developers at risk? ›
On the other, it poses a real threat to job security, especially for those in roles susceptible to automation. Unlike previous technological revolutions, such as the Industrial Revolution, the AI revolution is proving to be far more disruptive to employment.
Will AI replace coders? ›
No, AI is not expected to replace developers. While AI can automate certain tasks and make the development process more efficient, it still requires human intervention to understand and solve complex problems, design and implement solutions, and make ethical decisions.
Will ChatGPT replace programmers? ›
The AI-based tool may help you build the code blocks faster, but you'll definitely require a skilled developer to connect those blocks in an organized way to get the desired results. Thus, ChatGPT or any other AI tool will not replace human developers; but can significantly increase their overall productivity.
Are coders becoming obsolete? ›
So will coding be obsolete? While these developments suggest a future where traditional coding skills may become less critical, it's essential to recognise that coding will not vanish overnight. Instead, the nature of coding is evolving, and with it, the skills required to excel in the tech industry.
Why is coding so draining? ›
It requires patience, resilience, and the ability to think analytically while under pressure. The often cryptic error messages and unexpected outcomes can lead to cognitive overload and frustration. Context Switching: Programming often involves juggling multiple tasks and tools simultaneously.
Is coding a happy career? ›
Although being a successful programmer can be challenging, it can also be a highly rewarding field that typically leads to high levels of job satisfaction.
Yes, developers are in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of software developers is projected to grow 25% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. Definitely! Learning web development in 2024 is worth it.
Is coding still relevant in 2025? ›
Will coding still be relevant in 2025? The nature of coding work may change due to the advancements in technology, but the core skills of coding and programming will still be sought after.
How long does the average developer stay at a job? ›
Zippia's analysis of ~103K software developers provides a quantitative analysis [1]. They found 45% of software developers have an average tenure of 1 to 2 years, with a whopping 69% having a tenure of less than 2 years.
Is there a future for developers? ›
In conclusion, backed by technological changes, increased demand, emerging markets, agile methodologies, and remote work becoming a norm, the future of software development looks worth exploring. These changes present opportunities for tomorrow's digital landscape, which software engineers will shape.
Does coding have a future? ›
The Future of Coding is Bright
Coding skills will remain a valuable asset, but with a renewed focus on working alongside AI, no-code tools, and specialization. Embrace the evolution, and you'll be well-positioned for a successful future in the ever-changing world of technology.
Is there still a future in coding? ›
The Future of Coding is Bright
Coding skills will remain a valuable asset, but with a renewed focus on working alongside AI, no-code tools, and specialization. Embrace the evolution, and you'll be well-positioned for a successful future in the ever-changing world of technology.
Is programming jobs declining? ›
Following the programming hiring boom of the pandemic, fewer programmers are now needed in the workforce, especially as programming becomes increasingly automated in the age of AI. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a 11% decline in employment for computer programmers between 2022 to 2032.
Are coders still in demand? ›
With the proper support and training, you can launch a career in coding, and coding-related jobs are increasingly in demand. BLS projects that the IT field will grow by around 25 percent between 2021 and 2031, much faster than average for other occupations [8].
