“Coding is the new literacy” is probably the most common phrase you would hear in every TED Talk of a professional coder, developer, computer engineer, or even a marketing professional.
Coding has been branded by professionals from all sectors as one of those lucrative skills that everyone should learn.
Basically, it’s an ace that everyone should have up on their sleeve.
And they are right!
Mitch Resnick, one of the creators of Scratch, made a great point about how we should rethink why we learn how to code. In one of his interviews, he discussed the future of coding in schools.
He said that coding is kind of similar to learning how to write. When we write, we organize, express, and share ideas. Except when we code, we do all of this in new ways and in a new medium.
Coding for kids has gained a lot of traction over the past few years so it shouldn’t come as a surprise why people like him and others think coding is becoming a new literacy. Today, even kids can now learn how to code from the comfort of their own homes.
So having a coding skill up your sleeve would not only land you more high-paying jobs today, but it would also make you more competitive in the job market and prepare you for the future once these kids graduate and start looking for jobs.
Aligning The Numbers
As you probably already guessed, computer and information technology occupations are increasing over the past few years.
In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics even stated that employment in this industry is projected to grow 11 percent from 2019 to 2029. And to top it all off, the same government agency also reported that the median annual wage for this industry was $91,250 in May 2020, making them higher and above all occupations.
Almost All Business Nowadays Requires Technology
Besides the computer and IT sector, professionals from other sectors are also reaping the benefits of having coding as a skill.
With digitization being more popular and pervasive, almost all businesses nowadays require technology. The nature of work in today’s digital era requires everyone to have a few computer skills.
And when we say “computer skills,” it is not just knowing how to use Microsoft Word. Today, computer skills meant much more than that.
For example, if you are working in the marketing sector, then you should at least know how Google’s search algorithm system applies in your industry. That being said, many job posts in the marketing sector are now looking for a marketing professional who knows (or at least has a basic knowledge) about a coding language or two.
Working in Different Industry
In relation to the things that we have just mentioned above, learning how to code also means you can now work in any industry that you like. ANY industry!
No matter which industry it is, there is a high chance that they now embrace digitization as well.
On that point, we dare you to think of the most obscure industry there is and then Google searches it. There is a high probability that that industry already has a website or even an online community up and running.
With that, your coding skill would always come in handy in almost all industries.
And even though the obscure industry that you searched for earlier didn’t have a website, then maybe your future employer would ask you to create one for them using your coding skill. If that is not the case, then they might still need your expertise in coding when it comes to day-to-day work at the office.
Not many people are aware of this, but coding is not just about creating and maintaining a website, software, or app. Coding can also be a valuable skill that you can use for everyday office work.
For example, a great number of researchers, analysts, and even administrative workers know or understand a few basic coding languages. Given that many businesses nowadays are starting to embrace remote working and to some extent using business management software to streamline day-to-day office work, knowing how to code would surely give you an edge.
Once you learn how to read different coding languages, you would surely acquire foundational knowledge on coding and programming. This would then make learning these business management types of software a lot easier.
Start Learning Today
All in all, we should rethink why we should learn how to code. Aside from it being a lucrative skill, there are also other factors that make coding a valuable skill for the future.
And as the world becomes more technologically advanced, it’s best to be prepared and have a well-rounded skill that can be used in different industries. Besides, you wouldn’t want to be left out as the world trains and teaches the next generation how to code, right?
So get started with your coding journey now!