According to data shared by the Agexport Ito sector, during April 2025 software exports were increased by 130 % compared to April 2024. Last year currencies were reported for US $ 13 million, while this year US $ 29.9 million were recorded.
In full rise of artificial intelligence – which has been incorporated into almost all the economic areas of the country – and from the search for technological investments in Guatemala, as the possible creation of a data center The latest generation, the computer science sector has developed more strongly.
According to Gustavo Adolfo Ovalle, of the CIG technology and innovation union, due to the high technological dependence of companies, the technological and computer sector has increasingly strengthened: “All companies require systems, real -time information and applications.”
According to data extracted from the Employer Report 2022, published by the Ministry of Labor (Mentrab), around 9,524 people in Guatemala are used in some computer science sector, only in the formal economic sector. Ligia Chinchilla, coordinator of the Human Capital Table of the initiative Guatemala does not stopHe said that this formal sector in the country does not exceed 30% of companies. This means, according to Chinchilla, that 70%is missing, composed of people hired through freelance or who are not even found in Guatemala.
On the other hand, María Zaghi, commercialization of the Campustec, points out that, only among the projects recorded in the Campustec, 634 computer -related initiatives are counted, born of her incubator. However, external that there are more projects of the same nature in the interior of the country.
Outsourcing and exports
The increase in outsourcing and export of products such as software is due to the opening of new markets following the pandemic. This is explained by Cristian Lavarda, a member of the Board of Directors of the Agxport Software Exporters, who highlighted the use of tools such as the cloud (Cloud), which eliminates the need for engineers in person in plants. “What allows that is that anyone, anywhere, can connect remotely and provide the service,” said Lavarda.
According to Agexport, during this year, software export currencies during the month of January were US $ 24.2 million, in February of US $ 12.3 million and March of US $ 14.2 million.
Ovalle stressed that a phenomenon that has recently developed is that computer experts, instead of continuing in large companies, create their own IT companies to offer outsourcing services. “People who have a lot of experience and who work as people from you in corporate and large companies become independent and put their own companies,” said Ovalle.
In addition, he said that the growth of the computer area is also due to a large segment of SME companies, which, he said, do not have the ability to hire a person directly into a form; Therefore, they resort to outsourcing for specific jobs or for the administration of technological issues within their businesses.
On the other hand, Castillo mentioned that the magnitude of software production has also grown, especially in the field of “free software.” This means, he explained that many people are dedicated to developing software on their own; From there, according to Castillo, most free access applications are born.
Enough human capital?
Ovalle stressed that the computer science sector is a business turn that has developed considerably, which has led to The existence of sufficient human capital. Douglas Barrios, director of Computer Science at the University of the Valley of Guatemala (UVG), argued that, due to the increase in the use of artificial intelligence, organizations are increasingly interested in incorporating these tools into their processes, which has triggered the recruitment of professionals in the area.
According to Barrios, every year, from the pandemic in 2020, 60 computer students graduate. Likewise, Otto Castillo, Dean of Engineering at the University of Isthmus (UNIS), said they have an average of 20 computer graduates per year. Barrios also stressed that, at the national level, around 20 or 30 job opportunities for students are received every month.
On the other hand, María Zaghi said that they have more than 25 thousand curriculum specialized in technology. In addition, he stressed that, if in Guatemala there is no necessary specialization, it is possible to contact people from El Salvador or Colombia.
The increase in applications for this type of work and, therefore, of experts in this area, according to neighborhoods, occurred during the pandemic, since all organizations considered to perform a digital transformation.
Most relevant areas
Barrios mentioned that among the most common positions in which computer students develop are those that require the creation of web infrastructure, cloud resource administrators and architects in charge of organizing information in the cloud. In addition, he highlighted the work in cybersecurity and those specialized in data analysis, for which the use of artificial intelligence is required.
Ovalle, on the other hand, mentioned that there are currently positions such as IT managers (technology and computer science), who are responsible for developing technological strategies. “Most companies, at least medium up, have a person from technology manager in their structure,” Ovalle explained.
According to Zaghi, the sector where greater income is obtained is that of the Fintech. In addition, the Campustec marketer said that the area of agriculture and technology has also developed.
According to the employer’s report, computer experts can enter the following items: accommodation activities, administrative services, finance, real estate, public administration and defense, agriculture, health care, trade, construction, teaching, exploitation of mines, manufacturing industries, communication and information, water and gas supply, in addition to transport.
Wages
The employer’s report revealed that the best paid position in the formal economic sector is that of Creator of computer systemsin the sector of manufacturing industrieswith a salary of Q64 thousand . They are followed as Systems administrator, Software developer and analystand computer systems analystswith salary ranges from Q30 thousand.
When the positions require the execution of multiple functions, Ovalle said that salaries are around Q15 thousand monthly. He also stressed that if a service is hired outsourcing For the development of a technological platform or an accounting system, investment is considerably lower.
On the other hand, Ovalle assured that, in the case of small businesses that have a IT area, employees can win around Q7 thousand 500.