AI Boom Creating Job Crisis for Computer Science Graduates

Abraham Rubio, who holds a degree in Computer Science and Game Programming from Bloomfield College in New Jersey, has applied for over 20 jobs in the past few months  but hasn’t received a single offer. “I check LinkedIn almost every day for opportunities,” he said. “But most companies don’t respond.”
 

He’s not alone.

According to a May report from Oxford Economics, employment among new graduates in Computer Science and Mathematics has dropped by 8% since 2022. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows that software development job postings on the hiring platform Indeed fell by 71% between February 2022 and August 2025.
 

AI + Economic Slowdown = Fewer Jobs for Juniors

Alongside the global economic slowdown, the impact of AI is a key factor. Many software companies have reduced hiring at junior levels. Even tech giants aren’t immune  Microsoft, after briefly reaching a $4 trillion market cap, recently announced a third round of layoffs, cutting 9,000 jobs. CEO Satya Nadella revealed that around 30% of the company’s code is now being written using AI tools.
 

Julio Rodriguez, a graduate from Elms College, shared his frustration: “Tech jobs are great, but getting even one job in this market is nearly impossible.” He had to apply for over 150 positions before finally landing one.
 

Nick Vinokur, a Computer Science graduate from the University of Michigan, said his job offer from Meta was revoked due to internal restructuring. “AI coding tools are changing the nature of our work,” he said. “But that’s a major challenge for junior engineers.”
 

Unemployment Rates Higher for CS Grads

Oxford Economics also found that recent graduates in tech fields are facing higher unemployment rates than the national average. The jobless rate for Computer Science graduates is 6.1%, and for Computer Engineering graduates, it’s 7.5% significantly higher than for majors like History (3%), English (4.0%), or Performing Arts (2.7%).
 

Students Are Voicing Their Frustrations

Some frustrated students are turning to social media. A TikTok user known as @QueenOfSlack wrote:

“Studying Computer Science is hard  but the uncertainty around jobs is even harder.”
 

Universities and Bootcamps Are Adapting

In response to this shifting reality, educational institutions are updating their curricula. Magdalena Balazinska, Director of Computer Science at the University of Washington, noted that while AI is reducing the need for human coders, companies are investing heavily in large AI projects, which means hiring is slowing down.
 

To adapt, universities are launching AI-integrated software development courses, though AI use will be restricted in introductory classes.

Coding bootcamps are also evolving. Daniel Grassi, CEO of General Assembly, said they are now training not only software engineers but also CIOs and HR managers to become proficient in AI technologies.
 

A Fundamental Shift in the Job Market

Employment expert Kyle Holm believes this is not just another phase of technological change.

“The rise of AI is different from previous shifts,” he said. “Companies now want to do more with smaller teams.”