Russian software specialists are the best; their software programs can compete globally. The number of those Russians who want their children to become software engineers keeps rising.

MOSCOW, September 12, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey devoted to Programmers’ Day.

Today the word “programmer” is associated with the Internet, computer and software programs in the Russian mind (52%). Russians also consider the IT specialist to be a skilled and educated person (10%); they think the profession is linked to IT technologies (5%), innovations and movement forward (4%).

Every second Russian (54%) believes that Russian software specialists are the best in the world. Respondents also highly assess IT specialists form the U.S.A. (22%), China (14%), Japan (10%) and India (5%). Most of Russians are confident that the software products developed in Russia can compete with the foreign ones (85%); they are only opposed by 8%.

As to the quality of the Russian IT training courses, Russians are divided in their opinions: every fifth respondent considers that computer science training in Russia is better than abroad (19%), whereas every fourth (26%) says the quality is worse. Those who give negative opinions are mainly young Russians aged 18-24 and 25-34 (38% respectively), as well as active Internet users (31%). Thirty percent of Russians think that the quality of the Russian training programs and foreign courses are equal.  

As nine years ago, Russians still think that the profession of software specialist is prestigious (71% gave “4”or “5” in 2010 vs 70% in 2019). However, fewer respondents consider that this profession is high-paying (69% in 2010 vs 55% in 2019). The demand for this profession is still at the same levels (a demand “above average” was reported by 72% in 2010 vs 63% in 2019).

Over the recent nine years the share of those who would like their children and grandchildren to be a software specialist has grown up (47% in 2010; 56% in 2019). They are mainly the 45-59-year-olds (62%) and persons aged 60 and over (59%). Remarkably, younger generations are less likely to support this opinion; those who are opposed are basically respondents aged 18-24 (55%) and 25-34 (40%).

VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on September 10, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.