AI & Layoffs Shatter CS Job Market for New Grads
The long-held promise that a computer science degree equates to guaranteed prosperity has unequivocally collapsed. Recent data from a Federal Reserve Bank of New York study reveals a sobering reality: fresh computer science graduates are grappling with unemployment rates ranging from 6.1% to 7.5%. This figure is more than double the rates experienced by graduates in fields often perceived as less career-oriented, such as biology and art history. A recent New York Times report further underscores the dire situation unfolding on the ground, detailing individual experiences that border on the surreal.
The personal narratives paint a stark picture of dashed expectations. Manasi Mishra, a 21-year-old Purdue graduate, entered the job market after being assured of six-figure starting salaries. Yet, her post-graduation search yielded a single interview—at Chipotle, where she ultimately was not hired. Similarly, Zach Taylor, who graduated from Oregon State in 2023, has submitted nearly 6,000 applications for tech positions. From this exhaustive effort, he secured only 13 interviews and received zero job offers. In a particularly telling instance, Taylor was even rejected by McDonald’s, citing “lack of experience.”
This dramatic shift in the tech job landscape is attributed to a confluence of factors. Foremost among them is the rapid proliferation of advanced AI programming tools, which are increasingly automating tasks traditionally performed by junior developers, thereby eliminating entry-level positions. Compounding this challenge are the extensive layoffs initiated by tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft, which have saturated the market with experienced talent. Students themselves describe being caught in an “AI doom loop,” a frustrating cycle where they leverage AI tools for mass job applications, only to be met with immediate, automated rejections from companies also employing AI for candidate screening. Some rejections occur within minutes of application submission.
Despite the prevailing difficulties, there are isolated instances of success. Manasi Mishra, for example, eventually secured a job through a cold application, a breakthrough she attributes in part to sharing her struggles and insights on social media platforms, which resonated with a wider audience. However, her experience remains an exception in a market where the once-clear path from a computer science degree to a thriving career has become fraught with unprecedented obstacles. The dream of a secure future in tech, once a cornerstone of higher education, now confronts a harsh and uncertain reality.