Why I quit programming (2024)

Many people leave the field of programming because they become frustrated and find the work environment unhealthy. Nearly 5% of all resignations in 2022 came from the tech industry and it is believed that as many as 21% of programmers and developers are looking to leave their current jobs.

While many people experience work-related frustrations, the programming field is fraught with professional pitfalls. Programmers experience a high rate of burnout due to workload. Many programmers spend hours, some on their own time, debugging programs. While necessary, it can feel as though you are not making satisfying progress in the development process.

The daily tasks involved in programming are similar day to day. This can leave a programmer feeling bored with the repetitive nature of the work. In addition, programming can be an isolating profession with many programmers working from home and having very little collegial interaction. Even those programmers working in an office environment find themselves relegated to an office or cubicle away from regular contact with co-workers.

Programming is a profession that requires constant continued education. With the tech industry changing daily, it is necessary for programmers to be willing to update their certifications and be ready to learn new industry information. This can be costly and very time-consuming for someone who may already feel overworked and frustrated with their profession.