The developers will be the axis of the future. In a world that moves to the rhythm of innovation, the software business became one of the main engines from which a large part of the so-called "digital economy" begins to take shape.As a framework of this unstoppable expansion, the information technology (IT) industry already employs 110,000 people in Argentina.While unemployment reaches 9% according to the latest figures from the INDEC, the IT sector not only shows a situation of full employment, but has an enviable formality rate: 90%. The figure grows unchecked and everything indicates that this will follow doing.In effect, the labor evolution of the sector shows an average annual growth rate of 9.4%, well above the 3.5% expected in the rest of the items.However, a high deficit of professionals persists. So much so that last year only 5,800 positions were filled, showing a significant gap - more than 50% - between the needs of companies and the human resources available.In addition, $ 1.7 billion in products and services were generated, of which $ 950 million remained in Argentine soil. This difference results from what was obtained (and then exported) by international firms.The numbers speak for themselves. Compared with other industries, technology is one of those that shows one of the largest expansions not only in Argentina, but globally.The sector with the greatest projectionA study by ManpowerGroup Argentina reveals that the net employment expectations (ENE) for the next year have a general rate of -4%. This reflects that the prospects for hiring (considering all sectors) are the weakest in the last 12 years.By item, in the first quarter of 2019 a decrease in the payrolls of seven of the nine industrial branches is forecast. The one related to Construction accounts for the lowest contracting projections (-11%). It is followed by Transportation and Public Services, with -10%; and Manufactures, with -5%.The companies also announce scant intentions to add personnel in the Public Administration and Education, as well as in the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector, both with projections of -3%. Nor is the Services item saved, with an ENE of -2%."There continues to be a downward trend in hiring levels for the beginning of the year, a situation that says the attitude of employers in the last three months of 2018," explains Fernando Podestá, vice president and national operations director of ManpowerGroup Argentina.He adds: "There are no signs of recovery and the market begins to show the consequences of the recessive economic situation".In spite of going through a complex economic moment, with a reduction in the projections in general, Mauro Busso, general director of CESSI, is optimistic with the technological branch, since the increase remains constant. "The balance is very positive, so we have to continue generating talent and innovation," he explains to iProUP.The salaries paid by the sectorAccording to a study by Adecco Argentina on the salary prospects 2019, 90% of companies plan to grant increases. Of that total, half have planned an increase of between 20% (floor) and 30% (ceiling). Meanwhile, the prospects for those outside the agreement anticipate that the increases will be close to 27%.The oil sector ranks among the best paid. At the other extreme is retail, victim of the recessionary picture. Among those that better adjust the remunerations are the financial industry, technology, infrastructure, agriculture and the export of services.Ricardo Hernández, CEO of the Edison, refers to the particularities of the IT industry: "All the time new demands and profiles arise for the resolution of specific needs and salaries move accordingly."In his vision, everything that has to do with user experience and big data will continue with a high degree of requirements, which will have a correlation in salaries.Romina Pampena, HR Business Partner, foresees that in 2019 "these mentioned profiles will have more demand, since the market has started an upward curve in this type of projects."Currently, a senior consultant in these areas can receive gross annual income between $ 660,000 to $ 700,000.In the case of junior analysts, that amount reaches $ 370,000 a year," he adds.These private projections are in line with the figures provided by the CESSI: the average monthly gross salary is $ 25,700 for programmers without previous experience (junior), $ 36,700 for professionals with some experience (lower) and $ 48,650 for those with more experience (senior ).This "privileged situation" promises to keep up with the rise of the dollar, which will result in greater competitiveness and, therefore, greater sales abroad.According to the Observatory of the Knowledge Economy of the Ministry of Production of the Nation, the industry recorded a turnover of u $ s582 million in the first quarter of this year.Thus, it was placed as the third sector with the most external sales, second only to the cereal and the oilseed. This year it could close with exports of US $ 1,600 million, very close to the record of US $ 1,699 million last year.In addition, a new historic mark is projected in the total sales amount: according to the calculations of the entity, in 2018 revenues will be registered for US $ 4287 million, against the US $ 2,837 last year."The new context has a positive impact After almost a decade of foreign exchange, we finally become competitive again," Andrés Vior, CEO of intive-FDV, an international software development company that has offices in Buenos Aires, told iProUP. .Mutation of rolesThis transformation not only affects the software industry. Although they are a neuralgic point of the new economy, all items began to include a digital process applied to each point of its structure. And new ways of working, developing and carrying out business are a crucial part of future employment.According to the report "The skills revolution 2.0", which polled more than 200,000 entrepreneurs from 42 countries, most employers believe that digitization will result in a net gain for employment in the short term.Only 10% believe that they will reduce their workforce as a result of automation. As organizations become digital, most will need more people, not less.At this point, the software sector occupies a prominent place as organizations invest in digital skills. Behind are the front line functions and customer service.On the contrary, for the administrative and office functions, a greater decrease in the staff is expected as a result of automation.The increase in consumerism and the value that companies now give to customer service and "last mile" management are increasingly evident in a digital world. Roles that are routine or add less value to customers are those that are most threatened by technology."This has several benefits: on the one hand, it improves the user experience, allowing them to be more flexible and have a better balance between their personal and work life, which translates into greater talent retention, and on the other, it is possible to optimize productivity of the company, since the employees take advantage of these tools to be precisely where the business happens, "assures iProUP Christian Acosta, sales manager for the southern cone of Citrix.In this tune, organizations approach differently to their businesses, with a strong focus on technology."The role of IT in all industries is increasingly close to the business, as they can provide valuable information for decision-making thanks to tools such as analytics and monitoring solutions," explains Acosta.New year, new hopesWith this technological expansion, it is not surprising that the most searched profile on LinkedIn is that of developer in blockchain. According to a study conducted by the social network for professionals, this position was "the fastest growing" (33 times) in the United States during 2018.Another profile that had an important growth in 2018 was that of artificial intelligence specialist, since "six of the 15 emerging positions are related in some way to the AI". And a minor figure appears: it recorded an increase in 12-year year-on-year demand.To enhance this growth, CESSI has a "Strategic Federal Software Plan", in which partners of the chamber, educational poles and innovation clusters work together. This represents some 800 companies out of the 5,100 of the Argentine software ecosystem and 80% of the total number of employees in the sector."It is planned to generate half a million jobs by 2030, when 400,000 jobs will be needed, exports will be generated for US $ 10,000 million and we hope to consolidate within the first 30 countries in the world of digitalization and among the five in Latin America," he says. Busso.That is why the role of the IT ecosystem will be central to the tendency to redefine spaces and prepare for the future of work."The high availability and personalized delivery of these workspaces, as well as the unified control by the CIOs, will take a leading role in this scenario," adds the Citrix manager.In a world that is transforming at an accelerated pace, the next revolution will be led by technological roles.