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Updated: March 28, 2026 @ 10:07 am
Concerns about layoffs and artificial intelligence have left many computer science students feeling uncertain about their future careers, even as faculty say the job market is shifting rather than collapsing.
Tiffany Yung, a sophomore in computer science, said she sees mixed signals about the industry online.
“I don’t know exactly how to feel because I spend a lot of time on LinkedIn. I see people getting jobs every single day, but I also see a lot of people posting about getting laid off and whatnot,” Yung said. “There’s a lot of opportunities still, but it’s definitely competitive, and there’s definitely a bigger risk of being laid off at certain companies.”
For Marc Miller, a freshman in computer science, the uncertainty was personal.
“Seeing how much the industry has changed over such a short time makes me worried that the job market that I love, writing code, is not going to be available to me when I graduate,” Miller said. Students’ concerns haven’t gone unnoticed.
“I really do understand why students feel some anxiety right now. AI is moving fast, headlines can be dramatic, and the hiring market feels different from what it was a few years ago,” said Petros Drineas, the head of Purdue’s Department of Computer Science.
Many students worry about job prospects, but the data show something else. The faculty said the overall computer science market remains stable. According to Drineas, the data shows a steady number of graduates being employed post-graduation.
“For the Class of 2025, over 87% reported being employed just three months after graduation when we conducted our exit surveys,” Drineas said. “Despite all the headlines about tech slowdowns, we did not see any employment issues last year.”
Drineas also said that employer interest in graduates remains strong, even if hiring strategies have changed.
“Employer engagement remains strong, but it has evolved,” Drineas said. “Companies aren’t just hiring at scale anymore: They are hiring strategically. They’re looking for students who can contribute to AI initiatives, advanced systems work, cybersecurity, and interdisciplinary applications.”
Kevin Mumford, a Purdue professor of economics, said he believes some of the uncertainty students feel comes from the broader computer science market. When referencing the current computer science unemployment rate of 8%, Mumford said this is troublesome for individuals in this field.
“It looks as though the demand for recent college graduates has declined, and yet the supply hasn’t slowed down,” Mumford said. “So there’s this little bit of imbalance which is causing wages to just hold steady, and is showing up as an unemployment rate, around 8% as opposed to around 4% for everybody else.”
Mumford traced this unusual balance back to recent trends in demand and wages.
“As wages just kept going up, computer science and computer engineering had the highest wages of any major at Purdue. And this was true nationally as well,” Mumford said. “It’s just been in the last couple (of) years that wages have stagnated. Wages are often kind of sticky; they don’t drop. And so what’s happened is they’ve just kind of stalled.”
Students are noticing that AI is changing what it means to be a software engineer. Yung’s internship manager from the past summer gave her some advice that stuck with her.
“The most important skill you can build as a college student right now is to be able to use AI in your work as a software engineer.”
Anthony Dierkes, a freshman in data science, noticed a similar trend.
“I think there is a shift in the expectation of just sitting down and writing code, and more of managing a system that creates code with artificial intelligence,” Dierkes said.
Mumford said that while AI is becoming an important tool, its impact on the labor market is still developing.
“With the exception of some tech firms, most companies are just trying to figure out how (to) use this new tool,” Mumford said. “ I don’t think it’s had very big labor market effects yet.”
As artificial intelligence becomes more involved in the industry, employers are also changing what they prioritize and look for in employees.
Drineas said the need for computing talent hasn’t changed.
“Companies are looking for strong fundamentals, systems-level thinking, and students who understand AI and emerging technologies. Students who can explain how something works, why it works, and where it might fail are standing out,” Drineas said.
Dierkes agreed that a strong foundation of these concepts was still important.
“You’re only as good as what you’re building with, so it’s important to understand basic coding fundamentals and how certain tools work.”
Despite short-term uncertainty, experts say that the long-term aspect of the computer job market is still very strong.
“I’m not concerned about the long-run path for computer science,” Mumford said. “They’re going to be the people that do really well, because they’re going to know how to use AI and use it effectively, and they’ll be in great demand. “
Drineas said that the demand for computer science has expanded beyond standard tech fields.
“We’re also seeing strong interest from industries beyond traditional tech. Healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and finance are all investing heavily in computing and AI talent,” Drineas said.
Mumford suggests that students should continue building their skills and remain patient as the job market adjusts.
“Rather than take a job in a completely different industry that doesn’t use the skills you’ve developed, I would keep searching in the industry you’ve invested (in) so those skills are maintained.”
Drineas encourages students not to lose confidence during this period of uncertainty.
“My message to students is this: (continue persevering and) don’t interpret a slower response as a verdict on your potential,” he said. “Periods of disruption can feel unsettling when you’re in them. But they also reshape industries and create new directions.”
Every Exponent article goes through checks for accuracy before publication. If you have a concern or questions about this article, please email editor@purdueexponent.org.
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