Job prospects Operating Systems Programmer in Alberta

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "operating systems programmer" in Alberta or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Alberta

The recent trends from the past 3 years were updated on July 25, 2025. The job outlooks over the next 3 years were updated on December 10, 2025.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be Moderate for computer systems developers and programmers (NOC 21230) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

• Demand for this occupation is driven by rapid technological advancement, the expansion of digital services, and the increasing complexity of software and systems.
• Key trends for this occupation are in artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual and augmented reality, blockchain, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies.
• Most employment opportunities will be in Calgary or Edmonton.

Here are some key facts about computer systems developers and programmers in Alberta:

• Approximately 3,300 people work in this occupation.
• Computer systems developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 50%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 91% compared to 80% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 9% compared to 20% for all occupations
• 71% of computer systems developers and programmers work all year, while 28% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 17% of computer systems developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 81% compared to 53% for all occupations
  • Women: 19% compared to 47% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 13% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 22% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 46% compared to 21% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 14% compared to 9% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Alberta by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

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