The overall economy may still be soft, but within the tech sector, there’s plenty of work available for developers of wireless applications. That’s the finding from Elance, an online hub for contract job postings.
A new study shows soaring demand for developers who can develop applications for Android, Google’s mobile operating system, and Apple’s iPad. CIO Update takes a look.
That didn’t take long. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has yet to ship its much-hyped iPad tablet, but Elance has reported there’s already demand for iPad application developers ahead of next month’s launch.
The iPad rode of a broader wave of demand for mobile tech skills at the online contract services site. While Web development continues to top Elance’s list of most sought-after skills, the company said demand for mobile developers “exploded” in 2009, with a 180 percent increase for the past year.
As to the iPad specifically, Elance said 20 application-development jobs posted at the site immediately followed Apple’s unveiling, and, as of this week, there are 70 open iPad-related positions at the site. Last year more than 8,800 iPhone-specific jobs were filled through Elance, the company said.
But the fastest growing demand for mobile skills belongs to Android, which has increased 400 percent in the past six months, including 170 projects in the last month.
The boom for mobile developers comes as the overall U.S. economy continues to struggle with double-digit unemployment rates. At the same time, companies needing work on specific projects can tap services like Elance, oDesk and Guru.com to get online contract and freelance help without hiring full-time staff.
