Türkiye lost 30 thousand software developers in one year
The President of the Software Industrialists Association (YASAD), Gönül Kamalı, stated that 30 thousand software developers went abroad in 2021 and that this number could rise to 100 thousand. The most important reasons why software developers go abroad are low wages and long working hours. While the digital world grows unabated, companies' need for software developers is also increasing day by day. The President of the Software Industrialists Association (YASAD), Gönül Kamalı, stated that Europe is weak in terms of training a workforce for new generation technologies and that this has become a serious problem for countries. While Europe is closing the workforce gap by meeting the demand from other countries, software developers in Turkey have turned abroad. Stating that 30 thousand software developers went abroad in 2021 and that this number could rise to 100 thousand, Kamalı said, “While a software company in Turkey cannot find the financial strength to employ a newly graduated software developer for a thousand dollars, the offers that come to our software developers from the USA and Europe start at least from 2,500 dollars. “It is not possible for us to sustain this competition in TL terms,” he said. Kamalı said that it is not possible to change this situation in the short term, and drew attention to the need to increase software development programs. “More software developers will go abroad” Stating that one of the most important reasons why software companies lose their current workforce is long working hours, Kamalı listed other factors as follows: Since it is possible to work remotely, company loyalty is weak, increased working hours and good opportunities result in software developers moving on to another job. Thus, there is a great deal of work pressure on those left behind. If you are happy with a software developer, CVs are also requested from that person’s friends, 30 percent of recruitment is through acquaintances. Therefore, one person leaving their job means 5 more people leaving their jobs within a year. “Companies lose their workforce while growing” Kamalı stated that software companies in Turkey grow by 20 percent annually, while the workforce decreased by more than 10 percent in the same period. On the other hand, he said that there are also very serious gaps in certain thematic areas and that companies operating in the relevant field are affected by this situation by around 50 percent. “The Ministry is working on new programs that will attract software developers” Stating that work is being carried out with the Ministry of Industry and Technology in order not to lose the existing workforce, Kamalı stated that two issues regarding the ability of software developers to work remotely and flexibly are on the agenda. Kamalı said the following regarding the issue: “We are trying to introduce flexibility as a legislation for software developers to support projects of different companies during the month. Programs are being worked on that will make it attractive for software developers not to go abroad but to stay in the country.”