The Software Reckoning Survival Guide
Developer jobs are down 33% from 2020. Entry-level hiring has collapsed. Learn how to survive and thrive in the new reality.
The Software Reckoning Survival Guide by What About AI? addresses the 33% decline in developer jobs since 2020 and the collapse of entry-level hiring. It provides strategies for software engineers to survive AI-driven industry contraction and position themselves for the roles that remain.
Source: What About AI?
Key Insights from This Guide
Here are some of the most important findings. Download the full guide for complete analysis, action steps, and checklists.
Entry-Level Tech Hiring Has Collapsed
Entry-level hiring at top 15 tech firms dropped 25% (2023-2024), new grads now represent just 7% of Big Tech hires, and 70% of hiring managers believe AI can do the job of interns. 57% of hiring managers trust AI's work more than junior developers.
Developer Employment Down 20% in Three Years
Software developer employment declined 20% from 2022-2025, job postings fell 33% from 2020 levels, and 66% of global enterprises plan to cut entry-level hiring due to AI adoption. 71% of organizations report growing difficulties recruiting future leaders due to loss of entry-level pathways.
Pandemic Bubble Created Extreme Market Correction
Job postings peaked at 350% of February 2020 levels by mid-2022, with entry-level engineers routinely getting $200K+ offers. The subsequent correction: 263,000 tech layoffs in 2022, 429,608 in 2023, 151,484 in 2024, and 122,000+ in 2025—indicating sustained structural adjustment, not a temporary dip.
Higher-Order Thinking Now Differentiates Engineers
Employers now demand knowledge of the full software development life cycle, ability to work with stakeholders, evaluation and overriding of AI output, and explaining architecture trade-offs. Evaluating AI-generated code matters more than writing boilerplate, and business alignment drives hiring decisions over pure technical depth.
What's Inside the Guide
The Hard Numbers
Job postings down 33% from 2020. Entry-level hiring collapsed 50%+. See the full picture of what's happening in tech.
Why This Happened
The VC funding winter, ZIRP hangover, and AI hype cycle combined to create the perfect storm for tech employment.
Entry-Level Crisis
70% of managers think AI can do intern-level work. Learn how to break in when the bottom rungs have been removed.