- Entry-level developer jobs have fallen by 67% from 2022 to 2026.
- Many 'junior' job postings are actually filled with senior developers, with real junior hiring dropping 73% while postings increased 47%.
- Employment for software developers aged 22-25 has declined nearly 20% from its 2022 peak, and computer engineering graduates face a 7.5% unemployment rate.
- While companies often cite AI as the reason for cutting junior roles, economic factors like interest rate hikes and cost-cutting are the primary drivers, with AI alone accounting for only about a 10% reduction in junior hiring.