"I'm a CS major with a 3.83 GPA, sent out countless resumes, and got nothing." A 2024 computer science graduate from the University of Maryland posted helplessly on LinkedIn.
Source: LinkedIn
In fact, he is not alone.
UC Berkeley computer science professor Brien says the current job market is tough. In the past, Berkeley CS graduates usually received multiple attractive offers. But now, even top graduates with a 4.0 GPA say they can't get a single offer.
Source: LinkedIn
In his view, this trend is irreversible, affecting not only tech job seekers but also expanding to various industries.
The Wall Street Journal's article "In the Age of AI, Tech Jobs Are No Longer Iron Rice Bowls" reveals the reality: the rapid development of AI is reshaping the tech industry, and tech jobs traditionally seen as "iron rice bowls" are facing unprecedented uncertainty.
AI is not only changing job content but also threatening the stability of many high-paying tech positions.
Source: WSJ
AI Disruption: Programmers Out of Work
The widespread adoption of AI technologies is changing the employment landscape in the tech industry.
Many companies are adopting AI tools to optimize workflows and reduce reliance on entry-level positions. For example, tools like ChatGPT can automatically generate code, debug programs, and even handle some project management tasks, causing a significant drop in market demand for junior programmers and engineers.
Some companies are using AI to replace certain tech positions, leading to layoffs or hiring freezes.
Source: Forbes
Earlier this month, Meta announced a 5% layoff, about 3,600 people, focusing on "underperforming" employees.
Source: USA Today
Netizen: Great, now the whole world knows I'm a low performer 😅
Source: rednote
However, in-depth media investigations found that some employees with good performance records were also on Meta's layoff list this time.
Source: Business Insider
A Meta spokesperson responded: "Even if employees have met or exceeded expectations in the past, it doesn't mean they can consistently meet high standards. Meta has always upheld a goal-oriented high-performance culture, and employees are accountable for that."
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is pushing to streamline the workforce while investing heavily in artificial intelligence and virtual reality. Layoffs may become an annual routine. At the same time, Meta will increase hiring of machine learning engineers to support AI research and development.
Just at the start of 2025, 51 tech companies have already laid off over 12,000 people.
Source: layoffs.fyi
Workday
This month, Workday announced it would cut about 1,750 jobs, 8.5% of its workforce, as part of a plan to redirect resources into artificial intelligence and other strategic areas.
Source: Fortune
Salesforce
This month, Salesforce laid off 153 people at its San Francisco headquarters and plans to cut more than 1,000 roles by April 25. Meanwhile, Salesforce is still hiring in the AI field.
Source: Salesforce Ben
Stripe
In January this year, payment platform Stripe announced it would cut 300 jobs, about 3.5% of its workforce, mainly in product, engineering, and operations. However, Stripe said it "won't slow down hiring" and plans to increase headcount by 17% by year-end.
Source: CNBC
Amazon
In January 2025, Amazon announced it would cut about 200 jobs in its North American stores unit, mainly in core retail. Additionally, Amazon plans to eliminate about 14,000 management positions by 2025. At the same time, the company is investing heavily in AI.
Source: MSN
Microsoft
In January 2025, Microsoft planned a new round of layoffs. Meanwhile, the company continues to hire in key areas such as AI.
Source: CNBC
Tech companies today are cutting and hiring at the same time. The proliferation of AI is ending the "golden age" of traditional tech roles.
Under the impact of AI automation and economic downturns, tech companies are undergoing transformation. In the future, demand for high-skill jobs (such as AI engineers) will increase, while the stability of traditional tech positions will further decline.
CS Major: The Next Dead-End?
High salaries at big tech companies once drew hordes of applicants to the CS major.
According to statistics, the number of CS undergraduates in North America has tripled over the past decade and continues to grow. At Stanford and MIT, up to 30%-40% of graduates are CS majors.
Source: Stanford Daily
Netizen: "I don't get it. When did Stanford become an 'amazing' computer school?"
Source: Reddit
Having reaped the benefits of the times, CS has gradually become a prestigious field alongside law and engineering.
But with the impact of AI, will CS become the next dead-end major?
As AI and automation take over, demand for junior programming talent will inevitably shrink, and big tech companies will need top-tier talent more than ever.
An Intelligent survey shows that 25% of hiring managers believe new graduates are not yet ready for the workplace. Many companies plan to reduce hiring of new grads this year and prioritize candidates with work experience.
Source: Intelligent
Job hunting in CS today is like "The Hunger Games." In the past, everyone could switch to coding and land an offer; now, even those who switch can't find a job.
Source: rednote
The CS major, once hailed by small-town exam-takers as a magic weapon to "defy fate and change destiny," is now visibly turning from a "golden bowl" into a "dead-end."
With economic downturn and AI proliferation, demand for entry-level positions at big tech firms is tightening, and job competition is intensifying. Forget those who switched to coding halfway; even CS graduates from top schools now face a whole new level of difficulty in finding jobs.
Source: web
During the pandemic years, big tech companies went on a hiring spree, and CS majors benefited from that era's windfall. Only when the tide goes out do you see who's been swimming naked.
The industry is already crowded with people who have no passion for coding, and schools have become "programmer bootcamps."
Source: The Atlantic
The good old days of writing a few lines of code each week and slacking off at a big company are long gone. Rote learning and exam-oriented education only harm students; now, without GPT, they can barely code at all.
Source: rednote
AI is competing with programmers for jobs, and industry demands change rapidly. Only by continuously upgrading skills and mastering cutting-edge technologies (such as AI, cloud computing, blockchain) can one avoid being eliminated in fierce competition.
Demand for talent still exists, but future tech jobs will rely more on high-skilled and innovative talents.
Given the current poor job market, it's recommended that CS majors adjust their mindset, prepare for a long job search, and avoid being too picky or overestimating themselves.
Those from non-CS backgrounds should be extremely cautious about switching to coding now, as AI has already reached the level of a mid-level programmer. Think carefully about whether you're truly suited, make a long-term plan before deciding, or you'll just end up as cannon fodder.
The rapid development of AI technology and drastic changes in market demand have fundamentally altered the employment landscape for CS and related majors. In the future, how to find a foothold in the new order will be a real challenge every student must face.
