Programming Languages With the Highest Amount of Job Listings (Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and Upwork)
Most in-demand programming languages as of 2022
Knowing programming languages with the highest amount of listings is a no-brainer. Essentially, you get to know which programming languages are most in-demand.
As sweet as it sounds, to fully understand the market you have to analyze both demand and supply.
In this article, we will look at the demand side of things. We will research which programming languages have the highest amount of listings on different job boards and freelancing sites.
Methodology: How We Will Do This
First of all, we will look at the TIOBE Index, Stack Overflow list of popular languages, and the PYPL Index. This is to come up with a list of the top 15 popular languages. We will then search these languages on indeed, glassdoor, Linkedin, Upwork, and others.
I have picked this approach to eliminate the less popular programming languages. This will save time and leave us with relevant languages to look up.
We want to rank the top 15 most popular languages according to the number of listings they have on different job boards.
The rest will be left out. We will use these to determine if our approach is logically correct. This is by picking a few other random languages that aren’t that popular as control.
Top 15 languages from TIOBE, Stalk Overflow, and PYPL in no particular order
- Python
- Javascript (Node.js and Typescript to be considered separately)
- Java
- C/C++
- C#
- PHP
- SQL (I know some of you will say SQL is not a programming language)
- Go
- R
- Matlab
- Swift
- Kotlin
- Assembly
- VBA
- Objective-C
Bonus Checks
- Rust
- Ruby
- HTML/CSS
- Bash/Shell
- Powershell
All the above languages and technologies were checked.
The Results
Each language has been enumerated with its amount of listings on different job boards and freelancing sites.
Python
Indeed = 218, 173 jobs
Glassdoor = 72, 294 jobs
LinkedIn = 877, 403 jobs
Flexjobs = 2,075 jobs
SimplyHired = 97, 554 jobs
Upwork =15, 327 jobs
Freelancer = 309 jobs
Total = 1, 283, 135 listings
JavaScript
Indeed = 149, 863 jobs
Glassdoor = 51, 597 jobs
LinkedIn = 791, 445 jobs
Flexjobs = 1, 858 jobs
SimplyHired = 62, 904 jobs
Upwork = 39, 410 jobs
Freelancer = 205 jobs
Total = 1, 097,282 listings
TypeScript
Indeed = 30, 604 jobs
Glassdoor = 7, 847 jobs
LinkedIn = 64, 275 jobs
Flexjobs = 473 jobs
SimplyHired = 9, 754 jobs
Upwork = 3, 572 jobs
Freelancer = 46 jobs
Total = 116, 571 listings
Node.js
Indeed = 30, 541 jobs
Glassdoor = 7, 136 jobs
LinkedIn = 206, 566 jobs
Flexjobs = 382 jobs
SimplyHired = 10, 599 jobs
Upwork = 8, 579 jobs
Freelancer = 81 jobs
Total = 263, 883 listings
Java
Indeed = 176, 758 jobs
Glassdoor = 46, 506 jobs
LinkedIn = 844, 147 jobs
Flexjobs = 1, 481 jobs
SimplyHired = 68, 628 jobs
Upwork = 8, 515 jobs
Freelancer = 210 jobs
Total = 1, 146, 245 listings
C
C was quite a broad keyword. To counter the problem, I tried to use the keyword C developer but again some filters brought results containing the word developer.
This left me scratching my head. It was difficult to accurately search for C jobs. Regardless, C is often bundled together with C++ in most listings. C++ and C# results will generally guide us on how popular C jobs are as a whole.
C++
Indeed = 89, 808 jobs
Glassdoor = (Search didn’t allow the + symbol)
LinkedIn = 745, 973 jobs
Flexjobs = 48 jobs
SimplyHired = 39, 983 jobs
Upwork = 2, 718 jobs
Freelancer = 253 jobs
Total = 878, 783 listings
C#
Indeed =101, 458 jobs
Glassdoor = 34, 393 jobs
LinkedIn = 179, 830 jobs
Flexjobs = 65 jobs
SimplyHired = 46, 666 jobs
Upwork = 3, 982 jobs
Freelancer = 317 jobs
Total = 366, 711 listings
PHP
Indeed = 19, 001 jobs
Glassdoor = 9, 536 jobs
LinkedIn = 66, 199 jobs
Flexjobs = 345 jobs
SimplyHired = 9, 935 jobs
Upwork = 17, 686 jobs
Freelancer = 376 jobs
Total = 123, 078 Listings
SQL
Indeed = 203, 961 jobs
Glassdoor = 86, 231 jobs
Linkedln = 1, 182, 629 jobs
Flexjobs = 2, 665 jobs
SimplyHired = 102, 059 jobs
Upwork = 6, 808 jobs
Freelancer = 204 jobs
Total =1,584,557 listing
Go
Go was also a broad keyword that presented undesired results. Golang was the keyword used.
Indeed = 9, 049 jobs
Glassdoor = 2, 472 jobs
LinkedIn = 22, 266 jobs
Flexjobs =232 jobs
SimplyHired =3, 333
Upwork =678 jobs
Freelancer =10 jobs
Total = 38, 040 listings
R
R was also a broad keyword. Searching for R jobs with high relevance was a bit difficult.
Matlab
Indeed = 17, 881 jobs
Glassdoor =9, 059 jobs
LinkedIn =155, 145 jobs
Flexjobs =40 jobs
SimplyHired = 12, 019 jobs
Upwork = 519 jobs
Freelancer = 38 jobs
Total = 194, 701 listings
Swift
Swift also turned out to be a broad keyword in some job boards. I only listed relevant results.
Indeed = Broad keyword.
Glassdoor = Broad keyword.
LinkedIn = 19, 734 jobs
Flexjobs =338 jobs
SimplyHired = Broad keyword.
Upwork = 1, 502 jobs
Freelancer = 50 jobs
Total = 21, 624 listings
Kotlin
Indeed = 9, 966 jobs
Glassdoor = 2, 550 jobs
LinkedIn = 16, 064 jobs
Flexjobs = 167 jobs
SimplyHired = 3, 407 jobs
Upwork = 1, 138 jobs
Freelancer = 23 jobs
Total = 33, 315 listings
Objective-C
Indeed = Broad keyword.
Glassdoor = 25, 384 jobs
LinkedIn = 7,192 jobs
Flexjobs = Broad keyword.
SimplyHired = Broad keyword.
Upwork = 723 jobs
Freelancer = 99 jobs
Total = 33, 398 listings
Rust
Indeed = 9, 302 jobs
Glassdoor = 2, 825 jobs
LinkedIn = 7, 431
Flexjobs = 83 jobs
SimplyHired = Broad keyword.
Upwork = 508 jobs
Freelancer = 15 jobs
Total= 20, 164 listings
Ruby
Indeed = 32, 272 jobs
Glassdoor =10, 102 jobs
LinkedIn = 39, 165 jobs
Flexjobs = 600 jobs
SimplyHired = 13, 105 jobs
Upwork =1, 149 jobs
Freelancer = 14 jobs
Total = 96, 405 listings
HTML/CSS
Indeed = 42, 540 jobs
Glassdoor = 18, 027 jobs
LinkedIn = 69, 132 jobs
Flexjobs = 1, 017 jobs
SimplyHired = 19, 994 jobs
Upwork = 11, 668 jobs
Freelancer = 344 jobs
Total = 162, 722 listings
Bash/Shell
Indeed = 4, 806 jobs
Glassdoor = 2, 189 jobs
LinkedIn = 9, 718 jobs
Flexjobs = 17 jobs
SimplyHired = 2, 406 jobs
Upwork = 309 jobs
Freelancer = 34 jobs
Total = 19, 479 listings
Powershell
Indeed = 25, 167 jobs
Glassdoor = 12, 350 jobs
LinkedIn = 66, 577 jobs
Flexjobs = 118 jobs
SimplyHired =13, 541 jobs
Upwork = 242 jobs
Freelancer = 7 jobs
Total = 118, 002 listings
From the languages mentioned in the previous section, some were difficult to obtain highly relevant results. i.e C and Go. Assembly and VBA also proved difficult, so I didn’t include them in the results.
In some cases, highly relevant results were only obtained from a few job boards. The less relevant results were excluded.
We will consider all these factors when interpreting the results.
Understanding the Data
Before we interpret the data we need first to understand it.
Below are the rankings starting with the language with the highest amount of listings to the language with the lowest.
- SQL (1,584,557 listing)
- Python (1, 283, 135 listings)
- Java (1, 146, 245 listings)
- Javascript (1, 097,282 listings)
- C/C++ (878, 783 listings)—lacking glassdoor listings.
- C# (366, 711 listings)
- Node.js (263, 883 listings)
- Matlab (194, 701 jobs)
- HTML/CSS (162, 722 listings)
- PHP (123, 078 Listings)
- Powershell (118, 002 listings)
- TypeScript (116, 571 listings)
- Ruby (96, 405 listings)
- Go (38, 040 listings)—Golang was the keyword used. Go as a keyword was so broad. It attracted less relevant results.
- Objective-C (33, 398 listings)—lacking Indeed, Flexjobs, and SimplyHired listings. The keyword objective-C attracted less relevant results.
- Kotlin (33, 315 Listings)
- Swift (21, 624 Listings)—lacking Indeed, Glassdoor, and SimplyHired listings. The keyword swift attracted less relevant results.
- Rust (20, 164 listings)—lacking SimplyHired listings.
- Bash/Shell (19, 479 listings)
Representing and Interpreting the Data
Even though we skipped some parameters, the data obtained was relevant.
In the top 10 for instance, the missing parameters did not affect the rankings as the data obtained was dispersed.
Generally, Linkedin had the highest amount of listings and Freelancer the lowest.
SQL particularly shocked me. I didn’t expect so many listings. On the other hand, as with the other languages. It wasn’t required as a stand-alone language.
It was required alongside other languages, skills, and qualifications. Most if not all database jobs required knowledge in SQL.
Below is a funnel chart representing the data.
Below is a row chart representing the data.
Below is a bar chart representing the data.
Below is a pie chart representing the top 10 languages.
In Conclusion
In this article, I went all in. In total, I looked up 19 languages. This was to help me come up with the most honest outlook on programming job listings.
If you want to chase after the most in-demand languages, the top 10 is a good place to look. These languages include:
- SQL (1,584,557 listing)
- Python (1, 283, 135 listings)
- Java (1, 146, 245 listings)
- Javascript (1, 097,282 listings)
- C/C++ (878, 783 listings) — Lacking glassdoor listings.
- C# (366, 711 listings)
- Node.js (263, 883 listings)
- Matlab (194, 701 jobs)
- HTML/CSS (162, 722 listings)
- PHP (123, 078 Listings)
Regardless, a language not in the top 10 can be better in terms of landing a job or gig. Despite doing my research and putting this up, I don’t reckon most in-demand languages. I am a believer of rare skills over in-demand skills.
P.S. Feel free to advise me or correct me. I am open to recommendations. I will add recommendations as I continuously update this article.