When Manasi Mishra started her journey into computer science, she envisioned herself writing code for big tech firms, not rolling burritos. Yet, this recent graduate from Purdue has struggled to find opportunities in her field, impacted by the growing reliance on artificial intelligence for entry-level positions.
Mishra expressed her frustration in Tiktok videos—nearly 150,000 views—stating, “I just graduated with a computer science degree, and the only interview I’ve had is with Chipotle.”
This situation encapsulates the shift in the job market for new coders. As reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the unemployment rate for computer science graduates sits at 6.1%, while those in computer engineering face 7.5%. Both figures surpass the average of 5.3% for all recent grads, significantly higher than the 3% for biology and art history majors.
Jeff Forbes, who previously directed computer science education at the National Science Foundation, voiced his concerns, noting that students graduating a few years ago received multiple offers, whereas today, they’re struggling to find any jobs.
For years, tech leaders and even the U.S. president have urged young people to “learn coding,” suggesting it would lead to six-figure salaries and job security. Although AI has benefited a few in the tech sphere, the reality is that many companies hire only a limited number of staff.
Dario Amodei, CEO of AI firm Anthropic, warned that AI might eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs within a short time span. Tools like Github Copilot and Coderabbit have made it easier for companies to automate coding tasks, which has decreased the demand for entry-level programmers.
Moreover, factors such as overstaffing, aggressive cost-cutting, rising interest rates, and a widespread hiring freeze have contributed to this recruitment slowdown. While there is ongoing discussion about whether AI is solely responsible for this dip, junior coding jobs are indeed struggling.
The landscape of the labor market appears vastly different from just a few years ago. For instance, Zach Taylor, a 2023 graduate from Oregon State University, applied for nearly 5,800 technical positions but only landed 13 interviews with no offers.
Even his internship didn’t transition into full-time work. After being turned down by McDonald’s for lack of experience, he returned to Sherwood, Oregon, and is now collecting unemployment. He shared, “It’s hard to keep motivated to apply.”
Many job seekers now face an arduous application process filled with coding assessments, live tests, and multiple interviews, often ending with rejection or silence. Some describe the atmosphere as “dark,” feeling as though the software skills that once seemed like golden tickets have now lost their value.
In cities like San Francisco, advertisements for AI coding tools promise to outpace human coders in speed. While tools like Coderabbit haven’t achieved the popularity of Copilot, they offer features like real-time collaboration that enable fewer engineers to produce more work.
Audrey Lawler, a recent data science graduate from Clark University in Massachusetts, crafted her applications without the help of AI tools hoping to stand out. Yet, one rejection email came just three minutes after submitting her application, leading her to suspect that an algorithm made the decision.
The current economic downturn has also affected coding boot camps, which for years have provided alternative pathways to tech careers for those without traditional degrees. Many graduates are now finding it increasingly difficult to secure jobs.
Jonathan Kim, who invested nearly $20,000 in a part-time program at Codesmith, applied for over 600 software engineering positions but received no offers. He’s now back working at his uncle’s ice cream shop while continuing to tackle personal coding projects. Throughout this experience, he remarked, “They sold fake dreams of a great job market.”
At Codesmith, only 37% of its part-time students from 2023 managed to secure full-time tech roles within six months, a stark drop from 83% in late 2021. Other boot camps reflect similar rates, with some cohorts ranging between 37% to 50% employment.
While the company acknowledged the challenging environment, they noted that 70% of full-time alumni found work within a year. Industry insiders suggest that this situation has pushed tech companies to revert to traditional hiring practices that favor graduates from top universities, thus reducing inclusivity.
Michael Novati, co-founder of Formation Dev, remarked on the trend, stating that recruiters are now targeting elite schools like MIT and Stanford, leaning heavily towards proven candidates.
