With a modernized society full of rapidly evolving medical technology, widespread use of computerized gadgets, artificial intelligence (AI), and a booming space industry, life in the 21st century has begun to feel more and more like a science fiction movie. What began as simply dreams—just beginning to take shape in the mid-1900s—has now become normal for the average citizen of an industrialized country.
Accompanying this technological excitement has been a steady push for the next generation to pursue college majors and careers in the STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—under the assumption of a virtually guaranteed stable and financially rewarding career.
Thus, one might be shocked to learn of a recent report by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, noted by Newsweek, which stated that the major with the seventh-highest unemployment rate—6.1 percent—was none other than…
Computer science.
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Why—in a country where an understanding of programming and algorithms has become so deeply integrated into fields including not only robotics and engineering, but also medicine and even business—are computer science (CS) graduates faced with staggering joblessness rather than the financial reward they were promised?
The Newsweek report notes that only a few years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it a surge in demand for computer science-trained individuals. This led to a robust job market in a field of both lucrative six-figure salaries and high potential for remote or hybrid work—a dream for a young and fresh 22-year-old bachelor’s degree graduate.
However, as more college students began chasing the shiny promise of the tech field, the aftermath of the pandemic left the big tech companies feeling the heavy weight of both the economy and the employee overload. Both Newsweek and an article from Business Insider noted that companies such as Amazon and Google have been laying off employees rather than hiring, leaving current computer science laborers jobless and no spaces available for new hires.
In the previously mentioned Business Insider article, which was published as recently as December 2024, some recent CS graduates have been repeatedly dealt blows of rejection and nothing but silence from hundreds of job applications. This has led some to pursue what the article has termed “panic master’s degrees” to delay the job search for one or two more years in the hopes that the job market will improve.
While declining job availability might be a huge issue for some of these graduates, information compiled from a few other sources has indicated that there might be other contributing factors besides simply the job market that can make or break success for CS graduates.
I was once surprised to hear a friend in computer science mention some comments made regarding the CS major being “completely useless,” a stark contrast to the typical laudatory remarks one often expects when in STEM. While this choice of inflammatory phrasing is grossly exaggerating and oversimplifying, it appears there might be a kernel of truth buried beneath these words.
The CS majors that these college students rely on so heavily might not be adequately preparing them in the way they expect, at least not without adding a key piece to the puzzle: experience.
An article on TargetJobs published as recently as May 29, 2025 and entitled “Why your computer science degree won’t get you an IT job,” notes the following four reasons why the degree alone will not guarantee a student employment in IT:
- Employers consider not only skills, but also a candidate’s fit in the company, including demonstrating a knowledge of and passion for that company’s particular specialty or area of interest.
- There is reduced demand for entry-level IT jobs compared to mid- or senior-level positions.
- Recruiters are increasingly considering not only completion of the degree, but also a graduate’s academic achievements.
And most importantly,
- Skills and requirements sought by IT recruiters extend well beyond what computer science students learn in the classroom.
Now, this just applies to the field of IT and not the many other avenues open to a CS graduate. However, an article on SynergisticIT, although focusing primarily on the IT industry, made broad comments on the inadequate preparation a CS major alone, without complementary real-world experience, gives to students. This article mentioned a few gaps to include dated curriculum, a lack of proficiency in the newest tech, and little real-time experience in software such as Python, Java, and AWS. It emphasized the development of a real-world skill portfolio, gaining experience through small opportunities such as internships or volunteer work, and diversifying skills through involvement in programming groups and consuming media related to the field.
It even suggested a non-traditional route to tech, such as skipping the CS major altogether in favor of a “coding bootcamp.” While this may not be the preferred route for everyone, this method could prove beneficial not only for avoiding massive impending debt due to rising university costs but also for maximizing time spent gaining valuable real-world experience. In fact, it is through non-traditional methods that another friend of mine made his break in computer science, rising to chief technology officer (CTO) after 20 years in the industry.
His story in tech began at age twelve on 133 MHz processor, worlds different than the conditions seen in computer science now where YouTube and Stack Overflow lie right at a student’s fingertips. He began his formal tech work at the age of 19 on Best Buy’s Geek Squad, embarking on a journey marked by continuous knowledge building, extended workweeks, and frequent crisis management. As he puts it, “[b]lood, sweat, and tears aren’t just metaphors—they were the norm as I navigated systems administration, software development, and infrastructure challenges. Along the way, a few fortuitous breaks opened doors, but it was that relentless drive to learn and adapt that truly propelled me forward.”
Despite the differing job market and industry he faced in his time, he embodied the spirit of grit and determination that remains timelessly invaluable to computer science recruiters today. His insight into the experience gap seen among today’s CS students is backed by real-world experience, where he notes that “[CS graduates] haven’t necessarily seen what happens when a server fails at 2 a.m. or when a last-minute feature request jeopardizes a product launch.”
His advice for rising tech enthusiasts is simple: “[U]nderstanding how hardware, operating systems, and networks interplay in practice is the kind of insight you only gain by diving in and working through problems firsthand. In an industry that evolves almost daily, that practical knowledge is—and will continue to be—the most valuable currency.”
Whether a student chooses a university major in CS or decides on non-traditional methods, an alarming unemployment statistic clearly looms in their path; however, this does not have to be the end of the story. While it might not be the idealized, simple road to lavish success that CS has so often been sold as, true CS enthusiasts can still make their break into the industry—but they must put in the work.
A degree alone will not make six-figure dreams come true. Students need to put in the effort to gain practical experience—through projects, internships, and networking—to truly succeed in the tech industry.
Explore more from Hannah Hutchins on Muck Rack.
Image: “Google Headquarters Google Logo” by Anthony Quintano on Wikimedia Commons
