Six Reasons to Get Into Coding: 

STEM Expert explains how learning programming skills could change your future

The global artificial intelligence (AI) market was estimated at $196.63 billion in 2023 and is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 36.6% from 2024 to 2030.

Despite the financial potential in this industry, only 0.5% of the world’s population knows how to code. This has prompted experts at online education platform, Save My Exams, to share their top reasons why students should start learning to code, hoping to inspire more young people to dive into the world of programming.

Head of STEM, Lucy Kirkham, at Save My Exams explains: 

“What many people don’t realise is that coding skills open up a wide range of opportunities beyond traditional IT roles. Whether you’re interested in AI, cybersecurity, or even industries like healthcare and finance, coding can give you a competitive edge.”

1. Security

“The tech world is constantly evolving, and coders are needed in nearly every field. However, a significant digital skills gap has emerged, leaving a shortage of coders to meet the growing demand. As a result, coding has become one of the most sought-after skills, and the industry is forecast to keep growing. Job hunting can be difficult; coding skills can make it less so.”

2. Opportunity

“There are some common stereotypes about coding – particularly that it is a boring job role. Many don’t realise, however, that coding skills extend far beyond just IT-related industries. In fact, coding can make you a valuable asset in a wide range of fields, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, government, healthcare, finance, and more.”

3. Travel 

“If travelling is an important part of your future, coding can be a great skill to learn as it is a universal language, meaning you can utilise the skill globally, no matter where you are or who you’re working with.”

4. Problem-solving

“Coding is fundamentally about problem-solving. It requires breaking down complex issues into manageable steps and finding creative, efficient solutions. This process strengthens your logical thinking skills, which can be applied to many areas of life beyond work.”

5. Earnings

 “According to Totaljobs, the average salary for coders is £47,500. In comparison, Forbes reports the average UK annual wage to be approximately £35,830, meaning coders earn about 33% more than the typical worker. The financial security that coding offers can be a real appeal for students looking for a rewarding career path or for adults who are looking to retrain.”

6. Creativity

“Traditionally, coding has been seen as a purely technical skill. However, what many don’t realise is that coding can be incredibly creative, offering a wide range of opportunities for people to utilise their imagination. Whether you’re building websites, designing apps, or writing software, coding is deeply intertwined with fields like design and content creation. It challenges you to think creatively, create innovative solutions and craft unique user experiences.”

Sources:

• AI market: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/outlook/artificial-intelligence-market-size/global
• Amount of coders: https://userguiding.com/blog/no-code-low-code-statistics
• Coding ranks among the most in-demand job skills: https://www.coursera.org/gb/articles/coding-jobs
• For years, there has been talk of a digital skills gap: https://codeinstitute.net/blog/where-are-the-coding-jobs-in-the-uk/#:~:text=Right%20now%2C%20there%20are%20massive,to%20gorge%20proportions%20since%202020.
• Coder average salary: https://www.totaljobs.com/salary-checker/average-coding-salary
• Average UK wage: https://www.totaljobs.com/salary-checker/average-coding-salary