The simplicity and robustness of the language amazed me. These are probably the same reasons Java has become very popular for small and large applications. This popularity has of course created the high demand for Java developers. Many employees have ventured into the contracting world in recent years in order to have the flexibility of picking their own assignments and to receive higher hourly wages. On the flip side, many contractors become regular employees of companies, mainly because they don't like moving from job to job and they want to play a larger role in helping to build a company.
Stock options are another draw.
The Internet, a virtual world of various technologies, requires technical people of all levels to assemble solutions. This need has significantly raised the demand for Java programmers as well as Perl and Microsoft developers. The supply and demand problem With the demand for experienced Java developers far exceeding the supply, companies have tried to lure people with inflated wages. Both salaries and hourly rates have jumped as high as 40 percent in the past year. With companies fighting for the same pool of people and attracting them with these higher wages and sign-up bonuses, many developers seem to have forgotten basic business ethics and lost the sense of loyalty to their employers.