Some states have called on programmers who know the programming language COBOL to help their computers process unemployment claims in the wake of COVID-19.

Specifically, New Jersey was seeking programmers who knew how to code COBOL, a programming language that is widely used on mainframe computers like the systems that process the state’s unemployment ...

What is COBOL? According to IBM, COBOL stands for common business-oriented language and is a high-level compiled programming language developed for business data processing needs.

Yes, Cobol is dying -- just not yet. In that gap, some wily coders see opportunity for a career, or at least a secure job.

Despite the month it took to accomplish those programming changes, Iowa's reliance on COBOL hasn't been an issue during the pandemic, said Workforce Development spokeswoman Molly Elder.

College graduates with Cobol training are in short supply. In Michigan, for example, state schools that offer Cobol programming education have cancelled classes because of a lack of interest.

The share of searches per million for the programming language COBOL on the job site Indeed grew 707% during the coronavirus crisis. While job seekers are interested in the language — largely ...

Modern programming languages are also tighter and more efficient than COBOL - a boon for developers working under time pressure ...

Programmers who have COBOL and new programming language skills such as XML and Java are well placed to take a lead role in major enterprise software projects ...