Developers are increasingly becoming business-technology partners whose roles reach far beyond writing code. In 2025, they act as co-drivers of digital transformation, actively supporting company growth. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2025 report, programming- and AI-related roles are among the fastest-growing globally. Experts at Grafton Recruitment note rising demand for skills that blend technological know-how with analysis, collaboration, and creating solutions that advance business objectives.
IT Market 2025: Stabilizing After Turbulence
Although IT is one of the world’s most advanced and innovative sectors, it remains highly sensitive to macroeconomic shifts. In recent years, the industry saw sharp swings—after the pandemic-era boom in services came a reduction in demand and in hiring. Since late 2024, a gradual recovery and recalibration has been under way, accompanied by a change in which roles are sought. Demand is increasing for specialists in AI, cloud technologies, machine learning, and cybersecurity, while it is declining for software development and “cross-functional” roles—by 11% and 25%, respectively, versus the benchmark.
At the same time, developers’ work is changing: it is less about repetitive tasks and more about designing and implementing complex solutions using automation tools and AI-based systems.
“The IT job market is clearly shifting toward roles that combine technical competencies with domain knowledge and enable rapid scaling and adaptation to changing business realities. Positions that sit at the intersection of AI, security, data, and modern software engineering are gaining ground. Roles focused on repetitive work or a single technology layer are fading. Flexibility, automation, and a readiness for continuous learning are today’s key currencies in IT,” explains Karol Boczkowski, Manager and IT recruiter at Grafton Recruitment.
Developer Pay Under the Microscope
Compensation structures are also evolving. While developers remain well-paid specialists, salaries vary markedly by location and specialization.
- Warsaw: Java Developers PLN 17,000–24,000 gross/month; Python Developers PLN 13,000–21,000; Full-Stack Developers PLN 18,500–24,000.
- Katowice: Java PLN 15,000–21,000; Python PLN 13,000–19,000; Full-Stack PLN 16,000–22,000.
- Wrocław: C#/.NET Developers PLN 14,000–20,000; Java PLN 16,000–22,000.
- Tri-City (Gdańsk–Gdynia–Sopot): typically PLN 14,000–20,000 for comparable roles.
- Kraków: PLN 15,000–23,000.
The highest salaries are offered in architectural and managerial positions. In Warsaw, a Software Architect earns PLN 29,000–35,000, while a Software Engineering Manager can earn up to PLN 36,000 gross per month. Other cities are typically a few thousand zloty lower.
AI Tools Evolve—from Simple Prompts to Developer Partners
Among developers, opinions differ about their role amid rapid AI advances. Enthusiasm about new possibilities coexists with concern that automation could displace certain tasks.
“Contrary to predictions that AI will replace developers, market data points in another direction. Specializations focused on building and deploying AI solutions are becoming more important. Developers are not just users of these technologies; increasingly, they co-create them, strengthening their professional standing and their role in digital change,” adds Agata Jemioła, Branch Manager at Grafton Recruitment.
AI usage in software development now extends far beyond code assistance to include analysis, testing, and deployment. Results from the international SWE-bench study conducted by the University of Southern California show that the success rate of AI-assisted problem solving rose from 4.4% in 2023 to a projected 69.1% in 2025. Meanwhile, the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2024 finds that 76% of respondents already use or plan to use AI-based tools. Still, these solutions remain in development: only 43% of surveyed developers are satisfied with AI output accuracy, while 31% express caution and skepticism. This gap between broad adoption and limited trust is echoed by Qodo’s “The State of AI Code Quality 2025”: among 609 respondents, 76% said they do not deploy AI-generated code without prior review.
“Using AI in developers’ daily work requires not just tool proficiency but, above all, the ability to evaluate generated solutions. For newcomers, a critical approach to code—understanding structure, behavior, and technical implications—is essential. Automation can support daily work, but it cannot replace the experience needed to make sound engineering decisions and grow into an independent expert,” comments Karol Boczkowski, IT Recruitment Manager at Grafton Recruitment.
Skills for the Future: What Employers Expect
Developers who want to stay competitive and build expert status must continuously update and expand their knowledge. Grafton Recruitment’s experts point out that competencies considered “nice to have” yesterday are fast becoming must-haves in the AI era.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2025, IT is among the sectors with the strongest forecast demand for skills—especially in software development, artificial intelligence, data analysis, and cybersecurity. 86% of global employers plan to prioritize workforce upskilling by 2030. As a result, roles such as Software and Applications Developer, AI/Machine Learning Specialist, and Data Engineer are expected to be among the fastest-growing.
Beyond technical expertise, soft skills matter more than ever: clear communication, effective collaboration, accountability, and business context awareness are now integral to the IT professional’s profile. This also applies to developers working with AI—they must not only write code but critically assess tool outputs and adapt to a changing technological landscape.
“We see a clear rise in the importance of soft skills that enable effective communication with the business and the creation of solutions closely aligned to its needs. Critical thinking, flexibility, and adaptability are crucial when working with advanced technologies, allowing rapid responses to changing requirements and challenges,” adds Julia Łamacz.
Role Redesign: From “Low Cost” to “High Value Added”
Grafton Recruitment’s experts observe a marked shift toward specialized, high-complexity services. Standard processes are increasingly automated, while demand grows for competencies in data analysis, cloud architecture, and machine learning. In this context, developers are focusing more on building technologically advanced products, integrating new tools, and adapting AI-based solutions—work that requires both strong technical chops and quick responses to evolving project needs.
“Developers’ roles now extend beyond technical execution—they increasingly participate in decision-making, shaping products and technology standards. This changes not only responsibilities but expectations. The decisive capability is delivering solutions that tangibly support organizational goals,” emphasizes Karol Boczkowski, IT Recruitment Manager at Grafton Recruitment.
The profession of software developer is not losing relevance; its role is changing. Today, developers don’t just write code—they design solutions that shape how companies, institutions, and entire sectors operate. Their work affects everyday life, and the phrase “technology partners to the business” aptly captures the profession’s significance. As AI grows in importance, those who combine technical acumen with an understanding of organizational needs are especially valued. That also means analyzing business processes, engaging in communication, and collaborating across departments. Expectations are shifting away from one-size-fits-all outputs toward software tailored to real operational and strategic objectives.
This trend is global, but it carries particular weight in Poland, where the IT sector is gradually moving away from competing on price toward competing on quality—understood as maturity, business awareness, and specialist autonomy. Consequently, the developer’s role is becoming more complex and more responsible, making the profession not only current but decidedly forward-looking.
