"The work, however, didn't vanish with them. Tasks once handled by junior engineers-like writing and testing code, fixing bugs, and contributing to development projects-were absorbed by senior staff, often with the assumption that AI would make up the difference.And while AI has sped up the velocity of shipping code and features, there are fewer people to do tasks like designing, testing, and working with stakeholders, which AI has zero grasp on."
"The shift is striking, given how recently corporate America was courting Gen Z with fanatic fervor. Organizations raced to prove they understood younger employees. They flooded LinkedIn with thought leadership on the multigenerational workplace of the future, and retooled benefits programs to include wellness stipends and mental health days. Reverse mentorship programs, through which younger employees share knowledge and perspectives with more senior colleagues-touted by companies like Target, Accenture, and PwC-promised to give junior employees a voice in shaping culture and strategy."
Entry-level software roles at a Big Tech firm dropped sharply at the start of 2025, while the underlying work remained. Senior engineers absorbed tasks formerly performed by juniors, including writing and testing code, fixing bugs, and contributing to projects, often under the assumption that AI would fill gaps. AI increased shipping velocity but cannot handle design, testing strategies, and stakeholder coordination. Senior staff are burning out and leaving without prompt replacements. Corporate hiring and internship pipelines for Gen Z have eroded due to cost pressures and post-pandemic shifts, risking long-term talent development and diversity.
Read at Fast Company
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