I'd beg it's easier for someone who's already involved in programming and/or development at one level or another to learn new things in the space versus someone brand new. They've already got the conceptual understanding of how software works.

Especially if they're currently involved in Java. Unless we're talking folks who are near retirement age and don't have the desire to learn new skills. Then it could become cumbersome and a career change probably isn't in their deck of cards.