Computer Science Graduates Struggle to Find Jobs During Tech Layoffs and AI Boom

[Tall Timbers]

Despite years of promises from tech leaders about lucrative coding careers, recent computer science graduates are facing a challenging job market due to the rise of AI programming tools and widespread layoffs in the tech industry. Some are taking jobs at fast food restaurants while they plan their next move.

The New York Times reports that the allure of high-paying tech jobs has driven a surge in computer science education over the past decade, with the number of undergraduates majoring in the field more than doubling since 2014. Tech executives have long touted coding skills as a golden ticket to economic success, promising six-figure starting salaries and generous perks to those who pursue computer science degrees.

However, the reality for many recent graduates is far less rosy. The spread of AI programming tools that can rapidly generate code, combined with significant layoffs at major tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft, has dimmed prospects for those seeking entry-level positions in the industry. Among college graduates aged 22 to 27, computer science and computer engineering majors are facing some of the highest unemployment rates at 6.1 percent and 7.5 percent respectively — more than double the rate for biology and art history graduates.

Computer Science Graduates Struggle to Find Jobs During Tech Layoffs and AI Boom

Despite years of promises from tech leaders about lucrative coding careers, recent computer science graduates are facing a challenging job market due to the rise of AI programming tools and widespread layoffs in the tech industry. Some are taking jobs at fast food restaurants while they plan...

www.breitbart.com

Here's the real problem. Get rid of the H1-B Visa program and a lot of our home grown and very capable Computer Science graduates would have no trouble getting jobs in the USA:

According to data compiled by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, Microsoft has applied for 4,712 H-1B visas in the 2025 fiscal year alone. However, anecdotal evidence from former employees and industry insiders suggests that the actual number may be closer to 6,000, although this figure has not been independently verified.

The use of H-1B visas by large corporations has long been a contentious issue, with critics arguing that they allow companies to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor. Supporters of the program, however, maintain that it enables businesses to attract top talent from around the world and remain competitive in a global marketplace. Microsoft’s history of H-1B visa applications aligns with this perspective, as the company filed 9,491 applications in the 2024 fiscal year, with nearly all of them being approved.

 

[Margery]

Get rid of the H1-B Visa program and a lot of our home grown and very capable Computer Science graduates would have no trouble getting jobs in the USA:

Agreed! There is NO need for foreign workers in a market already saturated with home grown applicants.

Microsoft and the other tech giants need to actually hire the young grads. AI doesn't eliminate the need for human oversight, and these young grads need work. Train them to do what's needful with the AI - experienced workers don't fall from trees. They get work experience that puts their schooling into practice.

 

[dwb]

Circuit board technology, board design, and board troubleshooting are positions tech and manufacturing companies need. I worked in an extremely high tech, cutting edge type environment and we could not find qualified people. The chips and other components are hard to source requiring companies to go to China which causes headaches. The China components will not work as well, even though the specs may be met, the chips act differently shipment to shipment. This required each shipment to have special modifications and codes requiring hours and hours to troubleshoot.