A quarter of Estonians have considered studying programming or have already done so, according to a recent Norstat survey commissioned by the Education and Youth Board (Harno). At the same time, 63% of respondents believe that artificial intelligence has already taken or will soon take away programmers’ jobs.
“In practice, we see that interest in programming is increasing — not only among young people, but also among people who have worked in other fields for years. The same survey showed that one in five people is considering a career change within the next year. People are looking for new opportunities and a fresh start,” said Kätlin Merisalu, Head of //kood learning centres.
She noted that the common belief that the demand for programmers has decreased due to artificial intelligence is incorrect.
“On the contrary — while AI has made many routine processes much faster, the IT sector still needs people who can create and implement new systems, solutions, and companies born from this change,” Merisalu explained.
According to the 2024 labour market monitoring study (OSKA) for the information and communication technology (ICT) field, the demand for specialists continues to grow. The number of ICT professionals is expected to reach 40,200 by 2027, an increase of 5,740 compared to 2024.
The study indicates that slightly less than half of the new specialists will come from graduates or dropouts of ICT programmes, and about a quarter from retraining or foreign labour.
State supports transition to the technology sector
“The Estonian labour market urgently needs people who can support companies’ digital transformation. The needs of businesses are growing faster than formal education can supply new specialists,” said Liina Kanter, Head of the Educational Innovation Department at the Education and Youth Board (Harno).
To address this, Harno, in cooperation with //kood, is offering a free retraining programme for junior software developers. The course is open to working-age adults who have completed or partially completed higher education and wish to acquire practical skills for the technology sector within five months — with the goal of starting work as a junior developer or technical specialist.
The programme is also suitable for those who are not planning to change jobs or fields but want to improve their performance and contribute more effectively to their company’s development.
“The training is intensive, practical and project-based, following the //kood learning model that combines self-directed learning, teamwork, real-life projects, and company internships or supervised project work,” Merisalu said.
No prior IT education is required, which makes the training accessible to people considering a career change. “The projects become progressively more complex, and the model supports independent learning. Participants develop through their own experience, supported by mentors and peers. This way, they learn to analyse their work and give and receive constructive feedback,” Merisalu added.
“The training enhances not only technical competence but also teamwork, critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills.”
Applications for the junior software developer retraining course are open until 13 November. The training starts on 1 December, with the first two weeks taking place in person in Jõhvi, Võru, Paide, or Tallinn.
Both Kanter and Merisalu emphasised that despite rapid technological advances and the spread of artificial intelligence, the human role in the tech sector remains essential. Acquiring new skills and retraining are the best ways to adapt and turn these changes into opportunities. “Free and practical retraining allows people to continue or restart their careers in the technology field,” they concluded.
The activity is funded by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU initiative under the Resilience and Recovery Facility component “Digital Transformation of Enterprises.” The training is implemented by the Education and Youth Board (Harno).
