# IDC study says the global workforce engaged in software design is expanding

DevFeed: [IDC study says the global workforce engaged in software design is expanding](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/idc-study-says-the-global-workforce-engaged-in-software-design-is-expanding-9824.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.figma.com/blog/idc-design-population-study/>)

Author: Figma

Published: 2025-09-03T00:00:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Figma Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/figma-blog.md>)

Topics: [idc](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/idc.md>), [User experience (UX)](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ux.md>), [Figma](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/figma.md>), [Generative AI](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/generative-ai.md>), [software-development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/software-development.md>)

Tags: [2025](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/2025.md>), [design](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/design.md>), [figma](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/figma.md>), [genai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/genai.md>), [idc](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/idc.md>), [product-development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/product-development.md>), [software-design](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/software-design.md>), [ux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ux.md>), [ux-design](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ux-design.md>)

## AI overview

An IDC study forecasts that the global workforce involved in software design and development will grow by more than 30%, from 107 million workers in 2025 to 144 million in 2029. UX design is expected to grow faster than other knowledge-worker categories, while generative AI accelerates product development and raises expectations for usable, visually appealing AI features.

## Source excerpt

IDC forecasts that the number of people involved in software design will increase by more than 30% from 2025 to 2029--signaling the rising importance of design as a competitive differentiator.