Want a programming job? Make sure you learn these three languages

If you want to get a programming job, you better make sure you’re proficient in SQL, Python, and Java. That’s according to the 2024 IEEE Spectrum Top Programming Languages report, where they look at what employers are looking for.

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Between the 2022 Top Languages Report and the current 2024 report there have been some changes in the top dozen languages on the jobs list. Java and Python have swapped 2nd and 3rd positions, with Python coming in just behind database access language SQL. Python, of course, is hugely popular for AI-related development.

TypeScript has replaced JavaScript in the #4 position, pushing JavaScript down a few notches. That’s a bit of a demotion for the web page programming language, but a big jump for TypeScript, Microsoft’s version of JavaScript with more reliable data typing (making for more solid code).

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Another big mover was SAS, a statistical analysis language. SAS didn’t even show in the top dozen languages two years ago, but it has moved into the #5 slot in terms of being in demand by employers. This goes to the increase in data-related programming we’re seeing both as part of the AI boom as well as in big data.

Old, traditional C has fallen off the top 12 list completely. This makes sense because C# and C++ are far more versatile languages, while C is both a maintenance hassle and positively ancient.

What is a surprise is that Ruby, a fairly popular language for web development, has dropped off the list. Meanwhile, Kotlin, a language heavily used in Android app development, as well as in data science and enterprise applications, has made it into the top 12.

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There’s a lot more to understanding how we measure programming language popularity than just in terms of job listings, and we’ll be back with some in-depth analysis. But for now, the message is clear: Know your Python, SQL, and Java. And if you’ve been programming in JavaScript, it’s time to put some effort into brushing up on TypeScript.

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