Have You Heard About The 10,000 Missing Software Engineers?

I don’t have a clever punchline for you, but it’s no secret that Israel is desperately in need of around 10,000 software engineers, with no way to fulfill this massive demand. Israel is a small country, so it has relatively few computer science graduates. However, unlike other countries of its size, Israel is home to an incredibly high number of software companies, including local brands alongside international businesses and global giants like Google, Apple, Facebook, Samsung, and Amazon. The result is a massive gulf between supply and demand.

I regularly speak with the managers and owners of some of Israel’s top HR departments and recruiting firms, and the story is always the same. No matter where you look, you can sense the frustration. From startups, through midsize companies, to the largest enterprises, everyone is tearing their hair out trying to fill vacancies and add more developers, QA engineers, DevOps engineers, and tech managers to their rosters. Time, resources, and opportunities are being wasted across the board because they simply don’t have enough qualified people.

So what’s the solution?

As always when there’s unmet demand, we have to look elsewhere, to places where there’s excess supply. This is why more and more software executives are rushing to sign up dedicated software teams from outside Israel. These engineers are usually brought in for a two-week session, during which they meet their Israeli counterparts and get up to speed with the project. They then fly back to their home countries, where they operate as an effective, remote extension to the main office in Israel.

Of course, not all remote teams are created equal. If you’re looking for a dedicated team, take my advice and look no further than Ukraine and Russia. This isn’t a recommendation I make lightly. The fact is, I’ve been everywhere and worked with teams in India, China, Poland, and many other popular outsourcing locations. When you look at ROI, Ukraine and Russia are in a league of their own in terms of engineering quality versus the price you pay. I can tell you from firsthand experience when you meet these teams and work alongside them, you quickly understand where the real quality is. These are immensely talented young graduates and experienced veterans used to working in English, who are real team players and get reliable results.

That’s the bottom line, and this is the tried-and-tested way that Israel’s software companies can continue to grow, enjoying enhanced productivity, faster response times, and convenient contracts at an attractive price. While, at the same time, teams in Ukraine and Russia benefit from good customers, competitive rates, interesting projects, and a stable work environment.

It’s a win-win for everyone – and that’s a punchline we can all get behind.