Adaca report says Australian software developer jobs hit record high

Adaca says Australia now has more software and applications programmers than ever, despite fears that AI is cutting jobs. The report points to stronger demand, a heavy reliance on overseas-born workers and a persistent gender gap in the sector.

Why it matters: - Adaca’s report argues the AI-driven jobs panic is overstated and that Australian software development remains a growth market. - The findings point to a widening skills gap, with businesses still struggling to hire enough local talent. - The data also suggests Australia’s tech workforce is being shaped more by migration than by domestic education pipelines.

What happened: - Adaca published a new report called “Devs in record demand.” - The report says there are now 216,000 software and applications programmers working in Australia. - That figure is up from 189,000 in 2025. - The number has tripled, rising 217%, since 2006. - The report says software developer is the 24th fastest growing occupation in Australia since 2015, out of 702 occupations tracked by the ABS.

The details: - Adaca says there are between 19,000 and 25,000 people working in software development in Australia with no form of higher education. - The report says one in five developers is female. - The report says 62% of developers were born outside Australia, up from 50% in 2006. - Adaca founder Lambros Photios said developers are being displaced, not replaced, and that many are moving out of big tech and into other employers. - Photios said mid-market companies will increasingly build AI-powered dev teams. - The report frames Adaca as one of Australia’s top technology services companies, with customers including ANZ, Qantas and the UN.

Between the lines: - The report suggests AI is changing where developers work more than eliminating roles outright. - The high share of overseas-born workers points to a market that is still reliant on imported skills. - The gender imbalance shows the talent pool is still narrow, which could limit growth if demand keeps rising.

What's next: - Adaca expects more companies to hire their first AI-powered development teams as the technology becomes more common. - Photios said AI could lower barriers to entry and change the workforce mix, including the gender balance. - The report implies continued pressure on employers to source talent through migration, sponsorship and offshore hiring if domestic supply remains tight.

The bottom line: - Australia’s software developer market is growing, not shrinking, and AI appears to be reshaping demand rather than wiping out jobs.