Why should I learn to program?

There can be several good reasons to jump into programming in today’s technological era – whether you want to change your career, learn new skills, or upskill for your current role. Let us look at five reasons as to why should you learn to program.

Why should you learn to program?

There are many reasons why you should learn to program. Over the last decade, the rate at which technology has grown has been phenomenal, and during the pandemic, we saw it grow even faster. As a result, programmers are needed for every single industry, now more than ever. 

1. Programming is helpful in jobs you do not expect
   Learning to program is more important for some roles than others. But that does not mean that programming can not be helpful in less technically-anchored jobs. Fundamental programming skills can give you an edge at work by making some tasks more manageable. Whether it is the company’s webpage you are helping with, scheduling the workforce or changes to the budget algorithms, programming can help you with everyday tasks. 
2. Plenty of jobs
   Depending on where you look, there are millions of jobs out there for those who are technically skilled. For example, PwC reckons there will be 5.3 million new jobs by 2030 due to automation and digitisation. All over the world, the ICT scene is demanding a more considerable stream of software developers. With Covid-19, those numbers have only grown. As a result, businesses have had to find digital solutions, which has led to further growth in the skills gap.
3. High salary potential
   For many people, high salaries are a significant motivational factor. If this is the case for you, then it is another incentive to start learning to program. Most jobs that involve programming skills have a higher-than-average salary. Of course, the salary varies depending on what kind of job you are looking for, but the general trend is that a career in programming will bring you from junior levels to senior within just five years.
4. More freedom
   There are many forms of freedom with programming. With the assignments being online, a physical presence is not always necessary. In many companies, they will allow you to work from home if you want. Furthermore, there is less focus on your working hours but more focus on project completion. 
5. Learn everything online
   You do not necessarily have to take a bachelor or master degree to learn to program. All the information is freely available online, and it is possible to teach yourself much of it. There are also programming courses and bootcamps that do not take as long as traditional education. Many of these programs are delivered online and are often more practically orientated than conventional education would be.

Importance of programming skills

Programming is more critical now than ever before. More and more jobs require people to have software development skills. For example, the World Economic Forum predicts that 85 million jobs will be displaced by technology by 2025 due to the increased use of automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence. In place of these roles, it is predicted that 97 million more tech-focused positions will be required. 

Check any job board, and you will see that the likes of HTML are now a requirement. Ten years ago, this would not have been the case. Therefore, it is essential to learn more programming skills to avoid being left behind. 

Learn to program at Code Institute

At Code Institute, we want our students to learn the skills that industries need right now. Our students are ready for a technological workplace future by completing our Full Stack Software Development course with specializations. This course is perfect for upskillers and career changers who want to learn these skills promptly. Students can complete our course part-time within 52 weeks. 

More information

If you want to learn more about the course, you can sign up for a call here with one of our Education Advisors, or, if you’d like to see what it’s like to learn to code online, why not try our free 5 Day Coding Challenge. Register now through the form below.