Youth Espousing Tech-Shedding Preference in Estonia
** immediate update **
Hey there, bud! Have you heard about the drop in young programmers in Estonia's info-comm sector? According to Statistics Estonia, the number of 20-29-year-olds working in computer programming has dipped over the past year and a half.
Now, here's a fascinating twist - it's being replaced by a surge of middle-aged programmers. In 2022, there were roughly 5,720 programmers aged 40-69, which climbed to 6,880 by this June. What gives?
Data scientist Kadri Rootalu of Statistics Estonia shares some insights. She explained that this shift is partly due to the natural aging of those who started in the field a few years ago. However, she confesses that it's still a mystery why the number of young programmers declined more significantly over the past two years.
You're probably wondering about the reasons behind this intriguing situation. Here's what Rootalu suggests:
- Changing population demographics: The number of 20-29-year-olds has been dwindling in Estonia, while the 40-49 age group has seen a population surge.
- Emerging tech trends: With the rise of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and climate tech, Estonia may be shifting its focus away from traditional programming roles.
- AI automation: AI-generated code might be taking over entry-level programming tasks, causing demand for junior programmers to plummet.
- Regulatory shifts: Stricter data governance policies could necessitate employing more senior engineers for compliance roles, potentially squeezing out entry-level positions.
- Brain drain: Skilled young programmers might be leaving Estonia for bigger EU tech hubs in search of better opportunities.
So, there you have it! Keep your eyes peeled for further developments in this interesting saga. You can share this news on your fav social media platforms using #EstoniaProgrammingDrop. Let's stay informed and chat about this cool stuff! 💻💬💼🌐
- The decline in young programmers in Estonia's info-comm sector over the past year and a half has coincided with an increase in middle-aged programmers, with the number of programmers aged 40-69 rising from approximately 5,720 in 2022 to 6,880 by June of this year.
- Data scientist Kadri Rootalu of Statistics Estonia attributes the shift partly to the natural aging of those who started in the field a few years ago, but admits that it remains a mystery why the number of young programmers decreased more significantly over the past two years.
- Rootalu suggests that changing population demographics, emerging tech trends, AI automation, regulatory shifts, and brain drain could be contributing factors to the decrease in young programmers in Estonia.
- With the rise of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and climate tech, Estonia may be shifting its focus away from traditional programming roles, potentially causing a decrease in demand for entry-level programmers.
- Stricter data governance policies could be necessitating the employment of more senior engineers for compliance roles, potentially squeezing out entry-level positions and contributing to the decline in young programmers in Estonia.
