It's probably a systematic issue with how programming work is paid for. There are lots of 'software companies', but there are orders of magnitude more contract

It's probably a systematic issue with how programming work is paid for. There are lots of 'software companies', but there are orders of magnitude more contracting and consulting and IT companies - companies that charge work based on what some sales guy can get through the front door. After that point, it's about filling in seats with whomever can charge the most. Software companies need people who can code, as well as do other things. Other types of companies that do 'IT' need people who can look good in a seat. This causes lots of incompetent people to get jobs for many years.