Top skills and technologies required for software development job roles by 2025

As per the iMocha-EY Tech Skills Transformation: Navigating the Future of Work Report, technology skills permeate every job role regardless of industry and function. In this blog, we will walk you through the top 47 skills required for performing different software development job roles, including application development, UI/UX designing, system administration, etc. So, why don’t we get right into it?

Computer language-related skills

JavaScript

G2 defines JavaScript as a programming “language used to create and control the content on a website.” Apart from creating websites, this language also helps develop web, mobile, and server apps and browser-based games. Regarding the popularity of this language, as per the 2022 Statista report of the most used programming language (conducted among 71,547 respondents), 65.36% of them mentioned JavaScript as a language they commonly use. Coming to the hiring landscape, according to the Devskiller IT Skills and Hiring report, 72% of organizations are searching for JavaScript experts. You can learn more about JavaScript hiring from our blog on JavaScript skills to look for while hiring JavaScript developers.

Python

Python is an object-oriented high-level programming language that assists in scripting, machine learning, data science, automation, prototyping, software testing, and website building. It is also a popular language that top organizations like Instagram, Spotify, Dropbox, and several others use. It is marked with a 22.5% year-over-year increase in 2022 on GitHub and ranked as the third most in-demand language by recruiters in 2022 on Statista. There are over 11,000 Python—related job ads on Glassdoor, further enforcing its high demand. Additionally, the markets Python closely associates with, like big data, are projected to touch $103 billion by 2027.

Java

Java is an object-oriented and network-centric programming language and software platform based on C and C++. It helps with software, web, mobile app development, AI, big data, blockchain, the Internet of Things, technical documentation, etc. Regarding the job market, as per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of software developers, including Java developers, would grow 21% from 2019 to 2029, making it a popular skill for organizations to enhance their technological curves.

C++

C++ is an object-oriented, general-purpose programming language created in 1980. It helps organizations in various ways, including operating system development, game and game console development, IoT, web browsers, flight software, telecommunications, AR/VR applications, etc. Besides, as per the survey conducted by Statista in 2022, it is one of the top ten commonly used programming languages among software developers.

C#

C# is an object-oriented programming language belonging to the C family created by Microsoft in 2002. It aids in mobile, desktop, and web app development, blockchain, AI, ML, VR, game development, azure cloud applications, and more. When it comes to popularity, it is the eighth most popular programming language, as per Stack Overflow’s 2022 survey. While in the job market, a report by TechRepublic mentioned it as one of the top programming languages recruiters would hire in 2022.

PHP

PHP stands for Hypertext Preprocessor, created in 1994. It is an open-source server-side scripting language popular among organizations like Facebook, Slack, and WordPress. It helps develop webpages, WordPress themes and plugins, data encryption, and eCommerce stores. As per Kinsta, it is one of the most used server-side programming languages on the web, as 79.2% of websites rely on PHP.

Swift

Swift is a general-purpose and multi-paradigm compiled programming language by Apple Inc. It is also an open-source fast growing programming language that is safe, fast, and expressive. It helps develop apps used on iPhone, iPad, MacOS desktop, apple watch development, and Apple TV development. Apart from this, you can currently use Swift on other top operating systems like Windows and Linux.

Typescript

TypeScript is a programming language that is a syntactic superset of JavaScript, which aids in adding syntax to JavaScript. Developed by Microsoft, it helps create large applications and debugging. As per Statista's programming language in-demand by recruiters' report for 2022, TypeScript comes fourth with 31.3% in a worldwide survey of approx. 18,200 respondents.

Rust

Rust is a versatile, general-purpose, and multi-paradigm programming language used by platforms like Android, Firefox, Discord, Figma, and AWS. It is one of the memory-safe and type-safe languages that can be an alternative to C and C++. Coming to its popularity and usage, 86.73% of respondents (among over 80,000 developers) stated Rust as their most beloved programming language in the 2022 Stack Overflow Developer Survey.

Dart

Dart is an open-source programming language by Google. It helps create user interfaces for the web and mobile apps and works well for the server and user side. Besides, it was one of the fastest-growing programming languages, with usage that went up to 532% between 2018 and 2019.

Perl

Created in 1989, Perl is a high-level interpreted open-source language. It helps organizations in numerous ways, including UNIX scripting, enhancing shell scripts, debugging, CGI scripting, security system prototyping, system administration, data mining, and web automation.

Golang

Used by tech giants like Netflix, Dropbox, Uber, Google, eBay, IBM, and several others, Goland is an open-source procedural and strategic platform. It is a popular language with over 20,000 LinkedIn job bulletin listings for Go Programmers in the US, per ZipRecruiter.

Web app development skills (front-end development)

Angular

Angular is an open-source, client-side framework created by Google in 2012. It helps build web apps, web app maintenance, form management, routing, client-server communication, etc. Approximately 23% of professional developers use it among 58,743 respondents of the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2022.

Vue

Vue is a progressive JavaScript framework that builds on standard HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It greatly benefits app development, integration, animation, and interaction. As of May 2023, 1,674,075 websites use Vue as per BuiltWith, and there are over 4,000 job openings for Vue developers in the US alone. It also has over 180K stars on GitHub.

Native app development skills (back-end development)

Android

Android is a Linux-based open-source operating system. It is commonly used on smartphones and tablets. Around 87% of software developers working on mobile development work on Android applications as per 2022 Mobile OS for software development worldwide by Statista with 29,269 respondents. Besides, according to Business Insider, this skill requirement is further associated with the expected growth of the mobile app market by 21% from 2021 to 2025.

iOS

iOS is an operating system for Apple’s mobile phones. With iOS development, you can create apps for iOS. There were over 1.65 million mobile apps on the Apple App Store as of Q3 2023, which continues to increase. With an upsurge in iOS users subscribed to one or more apps by 900 million in 2022, it shows that iOS is in a high-demand market. Additionally, there are approx. 60% of software developers for Mobile OS work on iOS, as per Statista.

Windows

Windows is yet another popular native app development skill that will be highly relevant in navigating through the future of work by 2025 and beyond, as per the iMocha-EY Skills Transformation Report May 2023. It is also because of the increase in Windows users, especially with over 1.5 billion diverse PC users globally.

Node.js

Node.js is an open-source cross-platform that permits JavaScript to run outside a web browser. You can use this for creating web apps for IoT, eCommerce, payment processing, chatbots, single-page websites, crowdfunding platforms, video streaming, etc. As per W3Tech, around 30 million websites use Node.JS, popular among organizations like Amazon and Netflix. Coming to the number of job openings, there are over 342,000 Node.JS jobs on LinkedIn worldwide.

.NET

.NET is an open-source and free platform by Microsoft that works on multiple languages like C#, F#, and visual basics. You can use this cross-platform for developing mobile, web, and desktop apps. It is also beneficial in creating cloud, 2D and 3D games, machine learning, and IoT.

Back-end framework skills

Spring

Spring is a lightweight application development framework that supports other frameworks like Struts, EJB, JSF, etc. Besides, it is yet another essential skill to navigate the future of work by 2025 and beyond, especially with the rapid digital transformation. Spring is currently available in different modules: Spring MVC, Spring Boot, and Spring Security. You can use Spring to improve application security and build microservices.

ASP.NET

Developed by Microsoft, ASP.NET is an open-source web framework with HTTP protocol. Using .NET languages, it offers a programming model that works smoothly on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Using ASP.NET, your organization can build web pages, microservices, REST APIs, and more. As per the most used web frameworks among developers 2022 report by Statista, 14.9% of 58,743 respondents use ASP.NET, and 18.59% use ASP.NET core, which is ASP.NET’s open-source and cross-platform version.

ExpressJs

ExpressJS is a flexible and minimalistic small framework that works on Node.js web server functionality. It helps simplify APIs and create Node.js web apps conveniently. It is also useful while building websites and other back-end features.

API development skills

RESTful APIs

RESTful APIs are interfaces two computers use to exchange information securely, especially while communicating with internal and third-party apps on the Internet. It is based on REST or Representational State Transfer, a software architecture. These simple and scalable APIs play a critical role in AI development.

Data engineering skills

SQL

Structured Query Language (SQL) is a common language for organizing and extracting data. The first SQL standard was developed in 1986 and used by many relational database management systems. It is an essential data engineering skill in software development, which is also the language of databases.

NoSQL Databases

NoSQL is a non-relational database that emerged in the late 2000s. It helps store and retrieve available data in formats apart from the tabular relations in relational databases. It is a cost-effective database.

Container skills

Dockers

Dockers is an open-source project that helps work on containerization platforms in developing, deploying, and managing apps available in a containerized environment. It aids in building, shipping, and running distributed apps.

Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open-source platform developed by Google Engineers in 2014. It helps automate, schedule, and deploy containerized applications. It is a scalable and portable platform, and having proficiency in Kubernetes is highly relevant in navigating the future of work.

CI/CD skills

Ansible

Created in 2012, Ansible is an open-source IT automation tool owned by Red Hat. It helps with configuring, deploying, and managing different IT resources, ranging from servers to network devices. Ansible works on YAML language and aids in automating repetitive tasks. It is integral to have skills working on Ansible for employees to stay ahead of the curve.

Chef

Chef is a critical open-source configuration management tool in development and operations. It aids with automation and translating infrastructure to code. Chef works on different platforms, from Windows to Cisco IO.

Jenkins

Jenkins is a continuous integration tool released in 2011. It is an open-source automation server written in Java. It helps in various software development-related activities, including testing, deploying, continuous integration, etc.

Terraform

Terraform is an open-source infrastructure-as-code tool that assists in managing resources via APIs. It enables to create, update, and delete resources on cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, etc.

UI/UX skills

Figma

Figma is a design tool multiplying with over seven million registered users as of 2023. It helps with UX/UI design, web design, wireframe designs, mobile app interface designs, prototype designs, etc. It can also be used for creating social media posts. While using Figma, employees can collaborate and work together. Proficiency in Figma can be an essential skill for various job profiles, from designers to product managers.

Sketch

Sketch is a vector graphics editor for macOS developed in 2010. It is available as an app and website. With Sketch, designers can create digital drawings, prototypes, etc.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD is a vector-based experience design platform that helps create high-quality designs for websites and mobile apps. As part of navigating the future of work, having Adobe XD skills can be highly beneficial.

Balsamiq

Balsamiq is a UI design tool that helps with building website wireframes. It comes with a drag-and-drop editor that assists in providing clarity on website or app design before coding.

InVision

InVision is a prototyping and visual collaborative platform that helps create mockups. Used by over seven million people and 100% of the Fortune 100 companies, having proficiency in InVision can be helpful.

Proto.io

Proto.io is a prototyping platform that supports creating prototype apps for cars, camera interfaces, gaming consoles, etc.

Software architecture technologies

Azure

Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing service that supports different programming languages like Java, C, Node.JS, and C#. Since 85% of Fortune 500 companies use Microsoft Azure Cloud and there are over 722 million users, it is essential to look for Azure skills while hiring software developers.

IBM Cloud

IBM Cloud platform is a cloud computing platform. Proficiency in IBM Cloud helps work with IBM’s cloud computing platform, AI, and analytics and assists with development frameworks, APIs, SDKs, etc.

AWS

AWS (Amazon Web Services) is a scalable, low-cost cloud platform assisting with computing power, storage, remote computing, mobile development, etc. With over one million active users and 41.5% of the cloud market, AWS proficiency can be critical in software development because it is essential for roles like cloud architects, cloud software engineers, security engineers, etc.

SAP Cloud

SAP Cloud Platform is a cloud service by SAP. It helps work with the SAP cloud platform and manages hardware servers, maintenance costs, system lifecycles, etc.

GCP

Google Cloud Platform is an open-source and secure suite of cloud computing services. Today, in software development, especially with software architecture, having proficiency in designing, building, and maintaining data infrastructure and pipelines on the GCP is crucial.

Salesforce Cloud‍

Salesforce Cloud is yet another popular cloud-based software that also offers CRM services. Since it is used by over 150,000 organizations worldwide, having expertise in working with Salesforce Cloud can be integral in the future.

Software testing skills

Appium

Appium is an open-source and cross-platform test automation tool developed in 2011, written in the C# programming language. It helps with testing native apps, hybrid apps, mobile-web apps, etc.

Selenium

Selenium is an open-source automated testing framework that works on different programming languages like Java, C#, Python, etc. Mainly there are four components of Selenium: IDE, RC, Grid, and WebDriver. It is a vital skill required for various job profiles, including selenium tester, automation engineer, mobile testing lead, software development test engineer, and many more.

JUnit

JUnit is an open-source framework that permits unit and UI testing. It helps define execution flow. Proficiency in JUnit is a crucial skill needed for Java developers.

SOAPUI

SOAPUI is an open-source web service application that is a free and Java-based tool. Employees having the skill to work smoothly via SOAPUI is integral in software testing, especially with web services, performance testing, functional testing, and RESTful API testing.