For decades, the safest first rung on a software career ladder was the junior or graduate developer role. In 2025, that rung is wobbling. GenAI coding assistants, cautious corporate budgets and a glut of experienced talent from mass layoffs have combined to shrink the pool of true entry-level openings — just as a record cohort of graduates and career-changers tries to dive in.
This article traces how the market reached this point, why it matters, and, crucially, how newcomers can still carve out space in a rapidly evolving industry that…
