COBOL in 2025: Legacy or Opportunity?

09. April 2025

Today, COBOL technology remains significantly relevant in projects where managers' central concerns are reliability, stability, and ease of maintenance and updates. These combined factors ensure that COBOL remains a relevant programming language, with a greater presence in projects than many might imagine, even when compared to more modern technologies.

Part of this relevance stems from many financial institutions, telecommunications companies, government agencies, insurance companies, multinational corporations, and others still use and rely on these systems. Migrating them to newer technologies could pose additional risks due to the complexity and high costs involved.

It’s worth mentioning that, despite being a language created decades ago, COBOL has been adapted to function in modern environments, such as the cloud, which reinforces its longevity and utility.

The history of COBOL

The COBOL programming language was created in 1959 through collaboration between private and governmental institutions. Over time, it has undergone several updates and improvements to meet the needs of its users. By the 1970s, COBOL stood out for its adaptation to new programming practices and its consolidation in critical systems. It was one of the first languages to be standardized, which contributed to its widespread adoption and longevity.

Over the years, COBOL has continued to be adopted in key sectors of the economy that require robust systems to manage their operations. Due to its native ability to handle large volumes of data and transactions, sectors such as banking, insurance, transportation, and government systems see COBOL as a reliable solution for developing their technological infrastructure.

Why is COBOL still Important?

COBOL remains essential today, especially in critical sectors such as finance, government, and large corporations. There are several reasons for this:

• - Reliable legacy systems: They form the backbone of countless institutions and ensure reliable operations.
• - Need for continuous updates: Many of these systems must be maintained and adapted to new requirements.
• - Shortage of qualified professionals: There is a growing demand for COBOL specialists.
• - Global relevance: It is estimated that around 80% of global financial transactions depend on COBOL systems, with millions of lines of code running daily.

These factors ensure that COBOL remains a fundamental piece of the global technological infrastructure.

Opportunities in the job market

Although there is no immediate shortage of specialists, the market faces an imminent challenge as many experienced professionals approach retirement. This opens the door for new talent to enter COBOL system development. However, there has not been sufficient investment in promoting this technology or training new professionals.

As a result, opportunities for beginners may be limited, as mastering COBOL alone is not enough - significant experience and deep knowledge in other areas are also required.

On the other hand, competitive salaries and job stability are attractive incentives for those who choose to pursue this field. Critical sectors of society will continue to seek COBOL programmers, as they depend on this technology to maintain their daily operations.

Is COBOL difficult to learn?

While COBOL is not a difficult language to learn, thanks to its relatively simple and intuitive syntax, setting up a development environment can pose a greater challenge. For those accustomed to modern programming languages, COBOL may seem a bit different, requiring additional effort to adapt.

Today, there are many platforms and resources available online to facilitate learning COBOL, such as websites, videos, manuals, tutorials, and practical examples. However, it is essential to acquire complementary knowledge, such as database management, with DB2 being one of the most widely used tools. DB2, a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS), functions similarly to SQL, enabling efficient data manipulation. Another indispensable skill is JCL (Job Control Language), widely used in mainframe systems to control and automate program and process execution. Mastery of these tools is crucial for anyone looking to work with COBOL systems in corporate environments.

Advantages of learning COBOL

Learning COBOL can open doors to a career in strategic companies and sectors, providing excellent opportunities for professional growth.

• - High demand for specialists: Due to the shortage of qualified professionals and the retirement of many experienced programmers, there is a growing demand for new talent in this field.
• - Less competition: While most new programmers focus on modern technologies, specializing in COBOL becomes a true differentiator in the job market.
• - Attractive salaries: COBOL professionals often receive higher compensation than those in other areas, reflecting the critical importance of the systems they maintain.
• - Job stability: COBOL remains essential in many institutions, such as banks, insurance companies, and governments, ensuring a stable and long-term career.
• - Global opportunities: The relevance of COBOL in critical sectors worldwide opens doors to international job opportunities.

This set of benefits makes COBOL an excellent choice for those seeking specialization, good working conditions, and a solid and differentiated career. Additionally, training in this area can be complemented with knowledge of modern technologies, such as cloud computing and system integration, further increasing professional value.

The future of COBOL and system modernization

COBOL stands out for its ability to integrate with modern technologies, including cloud computing, well-structured and visually appealing front-end interfaces, and automation tools. Modernizing legacy systems does not necessarily mean abandoning COBOL, as migrations can be costly, complex, and risky. Such decisions involve crucial factors, such as the time required for the transition and, most importantly, the associated costs.

It is important to note that migration processes often do not go as planned, potentially compromising the efficiency of systems that currently satisfactorily meet needs. Additionally, many COBOL systems are so critical that any failure during migration could have catastrophic impacts, such as disruptions in financial or government services.

Thus, although transitioning to other technologies is technically possible, the costs and risks involved raise doubts about the feasibility of such changes. Many organizations prefer to continue investing in the maintenance and updating of their COBOL systems, which have proven to be reliable and effective.

It is worth mentioning that some companies are adopting a hybrid approach, where COBOL systems are integrated with modern technologies, such as APIs and microservices, allowing for gradual modernization without compromising the stability of existing systems.

For this reason, COBOL continues to play an essential role in the technological infrastructure of large companies and governments worldwide. Its reliability and ability to support critical, large-scale operations keep it an indispensable element in the functioning of vital systems.