No Juniors Today, No Seniors in 2031
The job market for junior software engineers has significantly declined since 2024, with postings down around 40% compared to pre-2022 levels. Big tech companies are increasingly hiring only senior engineers, leading to concerns about the future pipeline of talent. This trend, exacerbated by AI, threatens the development of the next generation of senior engineers who rely on hands-on experience and mentorship.
- ▪Junior developer postings have decreased by approximately 40% since before 2022.
- ▪Entry-level hiring at the fifteen largest tech firms fell by 25% from 2023 to 2024.
- ▪54% of engineering leaders plan to hire fewer juniors in 2026 due to the capabilities of AI copilots.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
I have been tracking junior software-engineering listings on LinkedIn and Indeed since late 2024. The graph has one shape. Flat in 2024, sloped down through 2025, falling off a cliff through Q1 2026. Big tech is openly senior-only. Mid-tier has followed. The few junior roles that did go up in 2026 advertise lower salaries, higher experience floors, and a take-home test designed to detect LLM use rather than ability. The data is consistent across sources. Junior developer postings are down around 40% compared to pre-2022 levels, and entry-level hiring at the fifteen biggest tech firms fell 25% from 2023 to 2024. Computer-science graduate unemployment hit 6.1–7% in 2025, the fifth-highest among US college majors.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Filipe Brito Ferreira — Front-End Engineer.
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