Author: Marianna Nechypor
Publication date: August 29 2025

Abstract:

Despite the increasing complexity of software systems and the crucial role of Quality Assurance (QA) professionals in the development lifecycle, limited attention has been paid to their scholarly output. This study estimates the proportion of QA specialists who author peer-reviewed publications or conference proceedings. Based on labor statistics, publication databases, and keyword analysis on Google Scholar, the data suggest that less than 1% of global QA seasoned professionals actively contribute to scholarly literature.

Methodology:

1. Estimating Global QA Workforce

Baseline Assumption: QA specialists comprise ~10–15% of the global software engineering workforce.

Software testers per 100k people statistics from the article “32 Software Testing Statistics for Your Presentation in 2025”

Based on the article: [1] 32 Software Testing Statistics the statement is “The global software testers ratio is 5.2 per capita per 100,000 individuals.” So, assuming the current world population is ~ [2] 8 billion people: 8 000 000 000 /100 000= 80000. 80 000 * 5.2(quantity of QA specialists per each 100 000) = ~416 000 QA specialists globally.

To test the numbers, we need to check on the USA statistics [3] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,

In 2023, there were working 205,000 software quality assurance analysts and testers in US. Based on the number above, there should be about 37.5 QA specialists per 100 000 people in US. Current US population is ~341 908 000. (341 908 000 /100 000) * 37.5 = 3 419 * 37.5=128 215. The deviation between numbers in US statistics and the numbers we calculated from the article, [1] 32 Software Testing Statistics are:

[1] 32 Software Testing Statistics : 128 215

[3] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: 205 000

Deviation: 205 000-128 215= 76 785 (37% from 205 000). So to be sure we have a correct number of QA specialists, we will increase the statistical number from 5.2 globally by 37% = 7.12

With this assumption, after recalculation : (8 000 000 000 /100 000) * 7.12= 569 600 QA specialists in the world.

Based on the statistics of USA from total count of software developers and quality assurance specialists, 1 897 000 only 205 000 are working in quality assurance. That is ~11%.

According to research paper : [4] Worldwide Developer Population Report 24.2, there are 26.9 million software developers. Based on the calculations from USA Bureau of Labor Statistics and statistics outlined above that only 11% of a total number of software developers are working in quality assurance: 2 959 000 million specialists are working in the quality assurance field. This number seems more accurate as only 200 000 specialists are working only in USA.

2. Estimating Scholarly Contributors

According to the research paper, Software quality: A Historical and Synthetic Content Analysis [5] https://arxiv.org/abs/2106.14598, 14,451 total publications on software quality were identified

Research Gate statistics identified 535 articles in the field.

Empirical studies confirm sustained collaboration in software engineering, often averaging over 3 authors per paper, according to the research paper:[6] New Software Product Development: Bibliometric Analysis

Using the total number of publication from research article: Software quality: A Historical and Synthetic Content Analysis which is 14 451 as our cumulative research papers quantity and adding to it optimistically additional 10% per year between 2021 to 2025 ( (14 451+ 10%)+10%)+10% )= (15 869+10%)+10%=17 485 + 10%= 19 234 (optimistic assuming the quantity of scholarly articles grows by 10% each year)

Without adjustment of duplicated works or authors, we come up with such numbers:

Total number of QA specialists: 2 959 000

Assumed number of scholarly publications in the QA field without correction of duplicated authors: 19,234

The percentage of QA specialists who produce scholarly articles in the field:

19 234 / 2 959 000 = 0.6%

Adding further adjustment to the numbers of publication to find a unique authors publications the number would drop by 30% to 50% according to [6]New Software Product Development: Bibliometric Analysis there are usually 2 - 3 authors for each research paper. And one of the authors is usually a QA specialist who has former publications.

So we can assume the total number of publications is around numbers :

Average between 2 numbers: 11 540 scholarly articles

With such numbers : 11 540 / 2 959 000 = 0.3%

3. Final Estimate of Participation Rate

Total percentage of quality assurance specialists producing scholarly articles without adjustment of duplicated works and using optimistic 10% articles increase assumption yearly:

Total percentage of quality assurance specialists producing scholarly articles with adjustment of duplicated authors, but using optimistic growth of scholarly articles per year (10%) :

Why is the number so low?

Limitations:

Conclusions:

The research confirms the hypothesis: only a tiny fraction, below 1% ( 0.3% ) of QA seasoned professionals worldwide contribute to scholarly literature. This highlights a disconnect between practice and academic research in the field and suggests a need for improved collaboration and visibility of QA contributions.

Literature:

Peer-Reviewed:

Kostiantyn Teltov