It's not news that the world is one of portability now. Ever since laptops became more easily transportable and smartphones became the one object you could find in every person's pocket, desktop and fixed-location tech has been something of a relic of a bygone era. You're more likely to see a pig fly than someone under the age of 30 using a landline phone or desktop computer.
However, as businesses have pivoted to online-first digital storefronts and presences, there has been a small section that has yet to catch up with the mobile-only generation with fully-optimized digital presences. Because of that, there's a clear niche that software engineers and developers can exploit and it could be 2025's hottest skill set for this group.
Every industry is now aware of the fact that they can't rely on the old-school method of promotion and attracting customers. First, it was the need to have a simple website. Then it became the need for a mobile-optimised website. And now, it's imperative that businesses of many different kinds have a dedicated mobile app that can be used on a number of devices.
The casino industry is a great microcosm of this. It's gone from being a solely brick-and-mortar deal to one that is almost primarily seen as digital. For example, Puntit India is a solely-online casino with a fully optimized mobile website that replicates the aesthetic and functionality of a dedicated app that you would install from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
With it clear that businesses are looking to ensure they have a mobile presence as well as a standard website, it should be no surprise that mobile app developers have a chance to enter a profession with an impressive salary, especially when compared with other salaries in the software engineering and development sector.
In fact, according to data from Indeed US , mobile app development jobs average around a $117,000 annual salary. That's in comparison with $105,000 for more standard software development roles. It might not seem like the biggest salary gap, but it shows that mobile developers are in higher demand and there's opportunity, especially in a freelance environment.
What is interesting is the makeup of the businesses that are looking to mobile and modernise. In 2022, the information suggested that around 50% of small-to-medium enterprises had their own app. Even more encouragingly, though, was that around 80% of the remaining businesses that were yet to jump on the bandwagon were looking to do so soon.
The fact that mobile isn't simply the domain of the big businesses that can afford their own in-house dev team is equally promising. It suggests that, while businesses may also be outsourcing their app development , they are still seeing it as an important part of their strategy. And this means that anyone who has mobile development in their arsenal is going to be seen as an asset, whether they are already working for an SME or they are functioning as an outside contractor.
One of the biggest changes in software development as a whole in recent years has been the growth of artificial intelligence within the digital sphere. No longer is AI seen as something specific to the world of gaming or more obscure corners of computer sciences. Instead, it has now become a part of a lot of people’s day-to-day lives, and nowhere is this clearer than in the technology and digital media industry. More and more, generative AI and AI enhancement are seen as standard in software and app development.
You only need to look at search engines like Google. Despite always relying on complex algorithms comparable to AI in order to deliver reliable results, the adoption of high-level AI tech to deliver editorialised results has become commonplace. More than anything, it is evident that mobile apps will continue to use this new technology to deliver efficient results in text-to-speech and natural language processing (NLP).
It’s not just search engines and text-to-speech apps and models that are adopting AI in the new mobile app revolution, though. Entertainment apps have seen a huge overhaul in how they operate. Spotify, one of the biggest music streaming platforms, has seen one of the biggest shifts. After cementing its place as the de facto online music collection of millions, it has pivoted back to a format more reminiscent of a pre-digital age.
With their recent addition of an AI-powered DJ, complete with an artificially generated script and voice, Spotify is harking back to the golden days of radio. The most important point to take from this is that it is further evidence that AI and mobile app development are fast becoming inseparable and that anyone who can jump on to the trend at an early stage will find themselves at the forefront when it comes to career development.
Anyone who has been in the business world in recent years will know that it's not the easiest time for any business or freelancer to operate. With increasing costs and downsizing from a number of the biggest names in tech, such as Meta, professionals must look to insulate themselves from the turbulence the industry is experiencing. The gig economy has become a staple, especially in the US, and that doesn't look like changing any time soon.
With that said, these sorts of skills are not only sought after by big businesses but are also great for ensuring that they have some insurance outside of the corporate world. Because of that, it won't be surprising to see that mobile development courses experience a massive uptick in enrollment as we navigate 2025 and beyond. If that is the case, it's not out of the realm of possibility that we see a real boom in the next five years.
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