The surging demand for programmers, mainly in the United States, is an issue we have already analyzed here in the MahiBlog. We have even discussed the importance of retaining Latin American talent in the region for the economy to grow. But now, we have the numbers to expand even more.

In Latin America, the numbers are a valid cause for concern. The projections show that the shortage of programmers is becoming a more complex issue every day since the greater demand is producing wage inflation that will only allow big companies to hire technological talent. A study carried out by the gamification technology company Nawaiam revealed that Latin America’s deficit is growing at an alarming rate.

THE PROGRAMMERS WE NEED

In Ecuador, for example, there is a deficit of 9,000 programmers a year, while in Chile, it is 5,000, and in Peru, 17,000. Likewise, the Colombian Society of Engineers assures a lack of 80,000 professionals to cover the demand in the country. Indeed alarming figures, especially if we contrast them with those of the specialized firm IDC, indicate that LATAM grew 8.5% in the information technology market in 2021, and this year it will reach 9.4%.

But this shortage hasn’t stopped local companies that are accelerating their digitization. The coronavirus pandemic revealed an unbalanced correlation between manual and automated processes that need immediate correction. Public policies and college institutions are doing what they can to close the gap. For example, we now see how 45% of college graduates in Chile come from technology-related careers. The numbers have also increased in Mexico (42%) and Argentina (41%), especially in Colombia, with 34% of higher education graduates from technology-related careers, up from 25% just ten years ago.

In Uruguay, meanwhile, the sector has an unattended demand for 5,000 technicians, which has recently increased, according to the Uruguayan Chamber of Information Technologies. Likewise, Brasscom reports that in Brazil, it is expected that by 2025 there will be a demand for 797,000 professionals in information technology, and details that currently, 53,000 people are trained per year in the sector. Still, the market has an annual need for 159,000 professionals.

Latin America still has a considerable advantage for software development and services companies worldwide. Wages have gone up, but not in the way of tech hubs like India, for example, or countries like the United States or Western Europe. As Big Tech is expanding its network to recruit talent in the region, we must not forget that from Mexico to Argentina, we also need customized software solutions to keep our local companies afloat and competitive. Education is the key, and if our region can supply the demand for professionals within LatAm and the rest of the world -at least in part- it will be largely beneficial for our economies and development.

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