Why Learn Python in 2022?

Is Python going to maintain its popularity? In this article, we’ll discuss the enormous potential of this programming language, the reasons behind its popularity, and why Python is likely to stay on top for a while.

IT professionals rate Python as one of the top programming languages. Leading tech companies, small businesses, and everyone in between are looking for Python programmers for a variety of different roles. Following this huge demand, there are a ton of Python courses online and offline that purport to train new Python developers. But is it still worth learning Python in 2022? Will it be still relevant in the coming years? Let’s find out.

Why Is It Worth Learning Python in 2022?

Knowing Python pays off on several different levels. It can get you a higher salary, enhance your career, and improve your daily work. Does it require a huge amount of time and effort to  learn? The short answer is ‘no’. For the long answer, check out this article. Now let’s see why learning Python should be one of your New Year’s resolutions.

1.      Python Is One of the Most Popular Programming Languages.

The Stack Overflow Annual Developer Survey 2021 shows that Python is the third most popular programming language, used by 48% of respondents. As you can see below, it leaves such well-known languages as Java, C#, and C++ far behind.

Stack Overflow 2021 Survey

The same survey also demonstrated that Python is the most wanted programming language for its fifth year. 19% of developers are interested in learning it.

The huge interest in the Python programming language is also confirmed with the PYPL PopularitY of Programming Language Index. This index reflects how often the corresponding language tutorials are searched on Google; Python is an undisputed leader here, with a share of 30 percent.

PYPL Index

As you see, Python’s popularity is not going anywhere; professional developers consider Python one of the most desirable skills. And this was only the first argument to learn Python in 2022. Let’s move to the next one.

2.      Python Is Easy to Learn.

Python is arguably the best programming language for newcomers. It has a simple syntax, great documentation, and a huge ecosystem of open-source libraries and packages. These tools will make even complex tasks simpler.

Furthermore, Python is known for its supportive community. If you are a beginner, you can always get support from more advanced Python users. There are numerous blogs and tutorials on a variety of topics. If you still cannot find an answer, there are many online forums where you can get support from more experienced users.

Of course, you may encounter challenges in your learning process. In such a case, it is important to have a clear training path and follow it step by step. You may choose a short learning track like Python Basics or a more extensive one, like Learning Programming with Python, if you are serious about mastering Python.

Most importantly, never give up! All your efforts will pay off. How? Let’s see.

3.      Python Boosts Careers.

Learning Python is an incredibly smart decision for your career development. First of all, it can help you get a job at some of the greatest companies out there. Tech leaders (including Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, and Uber) are all looking for Python professionals. Moreover, organizations like NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) are also enjoying the benefits of this popular programming language.

Of course, knowing Python can also boost your career within your current company. You don’t necessarily need to move to the IT department. It can be a more technical role within your current area of interest. Python can add significant value in marketing, HR, accounting, auditing, sales, etc.

All these exciting career moves are usually accompanied by a pleasant bonus: an increased paycheck.

4.      Python Is Likely to Increase Your Earnings.

According to Indeed data, the average Python programmer in the USA makes about $108,598 per year (or $51.4 per hour) in 2021. Moreover, an entry-level Python developer gets around $65,000 per year (or $30.7 per hour). Not bad for a person without much experience!

Even though the USA values programmers more than many other countries, Python developers earn quite well around the world – for example, Python developers earn $103,550 per year in Switzerland, $65,020 in Germany, and $61,980 in Australia.

Compared to other programming languages, Python is the third best-paid language, with only Ruby and C++ ahead of it.

However, it’s not just about money – the job is rewarding in itself!

5.      Python Can Improve Your Daily Work.

First of all, a Python development career can bring you a lot of exciting projects across a variety of industries , e.g. medicine, science, space exploration, environment, sports, and art, just to name a few. However, you don’t need to become a programmer to benefit from Python.

Actually, Python is great at automating routine tasks. You can use it to organize files on your computer, automatically generate and update Excel spreadsheets, parse PDF and Word documents, pull information from online sources, or send out email notifications. With Python, you can better analyze and visualize data, get insights from unstructured data, build machine learning models, and much more.

You can find more reasons to learn Python in this article, but if you are already convinced, let’s move to the next question – how can you learn Python?

What Is the Best Way to Learn Python?

Okay, it sounds like learning Python is a great idea. But what’s the most effective way to master a programming language like Python? Well, I’ve always been a big fan of interactive online courses, especially when it concerns coding skills.

Books usually provide well-structured information with extensive explanations, but to consolidate this knowledge, you need practice. Lots of practice. Even if you get some practical exercises in a book, you’ll still have several extra concerns like setting up a programming environment, importing data, etc.

With a good interactive course, you usually get plenty of exercises that you can do from the comfort of your browser. You can focus just on code, and that’s very important when you’re only starting and feel overwhelmed with all the new information.

A lot of people like learning from YouTube tutorials. This might be a fun and engaging way to learn new skills. However, in my opinion, YouTube videos rarely provide comprehensive information when it comes to such topics as a new programming language. YouTube can be good for learning some specific things (like how to write a certain kind of program), but this format doesn’t provide enough hands-on practice.

So, my favorites are interactive courses with lots of coding challenges. If you are looking for a clear training path, easy-to-follow explanations, and lots of practice, I recommend you to take one of the following learning tracks:

• Python Basics is a mini-track consisting of three interactive courses. It includes 229 coding challenges covering the basics of Python syntax, variables and their purposes, if statements, loops, functions, and basic data structures (including lists, dictionaries, and sets). This course is perfect for people who are complete beginners and just want to see if programming is for them.
• Learning Programming with Python is a learning track consisting of five interactive courses. In addition to the Python Basics track, this track includes two more courses, Python Data Structures in Practice (118 interactive exercises) and Built-in Algorithms in Python (67 interactive exercises). This track is aimed at newcomers who want to understand foundational Python and then go beyond the basics and learn more advanced programming concepts.
• Python for Data Science is a 5-course learning track covering the essentials needed to start working in the field of data science. The introductory course of this track includes 141 coding challenges covering basic calculations, simple data analyses, visualizations with Python, working with tabular data, and more. The other courses of this track cover such important topics as working with strings and processing data from CSV, Excel, and JSON files.

Start your Python journey today, enjoy the first rewards within a few months, and expect positive career impact before the year’s end!