Are COBOL Programmers Still in Demand?

COBOL remains a crucial language for handling business and institutional data processing in the world. Even though new development in COBOL is limited, the language's stability and existing usage continue to drive demand for skilled COBOL programmers, particularly in industries with legacy systems such as banking, insurance, and government.

Steady Demand in Legacy-Focused Industries

Despite the limited new development in COBOL, the decline is not significant for those who already rely heavily on the language. Many organizations have substantial investments in COBOL applications which require maintenance and updates. This ongoing need for COBOL expertise is driving the demand for skilled programmers.

In addition, the aging workforce of COBOL programmers raises concerns. This has led to a push for training new programmers in this language, ensuring that the skill set continues to be relevant. While the overall demand for COBOL may be less compared to more modern programming languages, it remains a niche area with steady job opportunities.

Slow Decline in COBOL Development

While there is still a demand for COBOL developers, the industry is on a slow decline. New COBOL projects are rare, and existing code is being migrated to other languages over time. In many cases, companies are relying on external consultancy firms to handle COBOL training and maintenance.

Companies recognize the cost and complexity of maintaining legacy systems and are moving towards newer, more modern languages. Over time, more and more applications will be decommissioned, and COBOL jobs will become fewer and fewer. While COBOL developers can still secure steady, well-paying jobs, the outlook is not promising in the long term.

Challenges for Global COBOL Talent

There is still a significant demand for COBOL programmers, primarily due to the sheer volume of existing COBOL code that needs to be maintained and enhanced. Billions of lines of COBOL code exist across various organizations, making it essential to continue skilled programming in this area.

However, a significant challenge for the growth of COBOL talent in the US is the outsourcing of COBOL coding. Many companies have moved COBOL development overseas, where labor costs are lower and technical talent is often more adept. This shift has led to a knowledge gap and a skills shortage in the US market.

While the quality of coding can sometimes be lower in overseas locations, the same can be said for coding in the US. The determination of what constitutes high-quality code must be prioritized to ensure continued success in this field.

Conclusion

COBOL programmers continue to have value in certain industries due to the stability and size of the existing body of COBOL code. However, the long-term outlook for COBOL developers is not favorable as more and more applications are migrated to modern languages. The industry is on a slow decline, and while current jobs are secure, new opportunities are limited in the coming years.