Phil Trubey says the job market is tough for junior developers; his son has not found a job after graduating with a CS degree
On October 29, 2026, Phil Trubey posted on X that the job market for junior developers is very tough. He said that after his son earned a computer science degree this year, he has not yet found a job and has had difficulty even getting interviews. He introduced his son as a U.S.-born citizen who can obtain a security clearance, and described him as thoughtful, cautious, and precise, while publicly seeking job opportunities.
The post was a personal statement and did not include specific company or hiring data. Public reporting around the same time showed that recent computer science graduates are facing relatively high unemployment, and that entry-level software roles account for a relatively small share of hiring. An Associated Press analysis said the unemployment rate for recent computer science and computer engineering graduates was about 7.1%; Indeed data showed that in the first quarter of 2026, senior roles accounted for about 69.3% of U.S. software development jobs, while entry-level roles accounted for only about 4.5%. A Stanford Digital Economy Lab study said that employment levels for people aged 22 to 25 in jobs exposed to AI were about 19% lower than in non-exposed jobs.
Undergraduate computer science enrollment fell 12.4% in the fall of 2026. These data provide market background and do not directly correspond to any single individual's experience.
Original sources:
Title: The tough job market for jr. devs is very real... Publisher: Phil Trubey (@PTrubey) Publication date: 2026-10-29 URL: https://x.com/PTrubey/status/2115944197580812688 Source type: personal original post Verification status: full post read in this request, verification date 2026-10-29 Supporting content: Trubey said the job market for junior developers is tough, that his son has not found a job after graduating in CS, and that it is hard to get interviews
Title: Computer science graduates struggle in AI-altered job market Publisher: Associated Press Publication date: 2026-09-24 URL: https://apnews.com/article/ai-computer-science-jobs-college-degree-99416cc8981d701e3674cf3dfa501491 Source type: media report Verification status: relevant content read in this request, verification date 2026-10-29 Supporting content: Recent computer science graduates' unemployment rate is about 7.1%, and software development job postings have declined (background)
Title: Software Engineer Job Market 2026: Data, Charts, Outlook Publisher: StackChief Publication date: 2026-10-22 URL: https://stackchief.com/blog/Software%20Engineer%20Job%20Market%202026%3A%20What%20the%20Data%20Shows%20Right%20Now Source type: data analysis report Verification status: relevant content read in this request, verification date 2026-10-29 Supporting content: Indeed data show that entry-level software roles account for about 4.5%, while senior roles make up the majority (background)
ABAB AI Insight
Trubey's post records an individual experience while also pointing to a market phenomenon of shrinking supply of junior developer roles. The declining share of entry-level jobs in overall hiring means that the first-job path for new graduates is narrowing. After AI tools handle some repetitive coding work, companies are more inclined to hire engineers who already have experience rather than use junior roles for training and basic tasks.
On the capital side, while companies are increasing AI-related spending, they are cutting recruiting budgets used to cultivate junior talent. A reduction in entry-level roles does not mean that overall software development demand has disappeared; rather, demand is concentrating in senior and AI-related roles. The recent decline in computer science enrollment may reflect students' response to current job signals, but long-term demand still depends on companies' subsequent willingness to add junior talent.
Compared with relatively stable demand for senior engineers, the contraction of junior roles has changed the entry threshold for new graduates. The indicators to watch are changes in the share of entry-level software jobs in total hiring and public adjustments to new graduate recruiting plans by major tech companies.
ABAB News · Laws of cognition
When the share of entry-level software jobs in total hiring declines, the first-job path for new graduates narrows at the same time.
After AI tools take on some junior coding tasks, companies shift their hiring focus toward engineers with experience.