A Comp Science Degree Isn’t A JOB MAGNET ANYMORE

[Student Village]

For years, a computer science degree was the golden ticket waved by tech CEOs, policymakers, and proud parents—a straight shot to six-figure salaries right out of college. But today, that promise is crumbling, leaving a growing number of young grads staring at empty inboxes instead of job offers.

Silicon Valley’s shift away from entry-level hiring, coupled with the rise of AI taking over beginner tasks, has turned the tech job market into a battlefield for recent computer science graduates. Some are even swapping code for tortillas, applying to spots like Chipotle where burrito skills trump Python prowess.

A Perfect Storm Brewing
The warning signs were there as early as 2023, when ChatGPT began infiltrating American offices. Data from the New York Federal Reserve paints a stark picture: computer science and computer engineering majors now face unemployment rates of 6.1% and 7.5%, respectively, dwarfing the 3.6% average for all majors.

This shift followed a post-pandemic hiring boom that saw major tech giants like Meta and Amazon slash jobs and scale back recruitment. The fallout? A saturated market where fresh grads are pitted against seasoned pros.

Job listings tell the tale: software engineer postings on Indeed have plummeted nearly 70% from their 2022 peak, though a slight uptick has emerged recently, per the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Meanwhile, the Computing Research Association notes that computer science enrollment has more than doubled from 2014 to 2024, flooding the pool with eager newcomers.

Add in AI tools snagging the simpler coding gigs, and you’ve got a perfect storm. VC firm SignalFire reports entry-level hiring at Big Tech and startups dropped 25% and 11% between 2023 and 2024, with automation as a key culprit.

Adapting to Survive
Career coaches are sounding the alarm, urging grads to upskill and master AI tools to stand out. Employers, it seems, are increasingly sidelining degree credentials in favor of practical know-how. LinkedIn profiles are now dotted with #opentowork badges as experienced devs join the fray, making the hunt even tougher for those fresh off four years of coding bootcamps.

A Silver Lining?
Yet, it’s not all doom. The New York Fed data reveals a bright spot: those CS grads who do land jobs are cashing in with an early career average of $80,000—the envy of many majors.

Plus, they’re less likely to settle for roles beneath their qualifications, hinting at a stubborn resolve to match jobs to their skillset. For the determined, a CS degree can still pay off—it just takes more hustle to crack the code in today’s tech landscape.

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