Big Tech Told Kids to Code. The Jobs Didn’t Follow.

Overview

This episode explores the broken promise of the tech industry’s push for coding education. For over a decade, students were told that learning to code would guarantee lucrative, stable careers. However, many recent computer science graduates are struggling to find jobs, facing high unemployment rates, and grappling with a rapidly shifting tech landscape dominated by AI and automation.

Notable Quotes

- The programmers of tomorrow are the wizards of the future. You’re going to look like you have magic powers compared to everybody else. – Bill Gates, in a 2013 Code.org video.

- It’s no longer the golden ticket. It’s the tarnished ticket. – Natasha Singer, on the current state of tech job prospects for computer science graduates.

- How are you going to have senior developers if you get rid of all the junior developers? – Nathan Spencer, reflecting on AI’s impact on entry-level tech jobs.

🖥️ The Rise of the Learn to Code Movement

- In the early 2010s, tech leaders like Eric Schmidt (Google) and Brad Smith (Microsoft) warned of a looming skills gap, urging schools to prioritize computer science education.

- Code.org, founded in 2013, popularized coding through viral campaigns like the Hour of Code, featuring tech icons such as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.

- By 2016, computer science became a core subject in many schools, with programs like AP Computer Science Principles designed to broaden access.

📈 The Boom in Computer Science Enrollment

- The push worked: the number of undergraduates majoring in computer science tripled between 2012 and 2024, reaching over 170,000 students.

- For some, the promise of high-paying jobs materialized, especially for graduates from elite universities. However, many others found themselves unprepared for the realities of the job market.

📉 The Job Market Collapse for Recent Grads

- Unemployment rates for recent computer science grads (6.1%-7.5%) now exceed those of biology majors (3%).

- Factors include:

- Over-hiring during the pandemic, followed by layoffs.

- Increased reliance on foreign workers through H-1B visas.

- AI replacing entry-level coding roles, with tools like Anthropic’s Claude Code automating programming tasks.

- Many graduates, like Nathan Spencer, applied to dozens of jobs without success, with some resorting to non-tech roles like fast food or retail.

🤖 AI’s Disruption of the Tech Workforce

- AI is reshaping the industry, reducing demand for junior developers while prioritizing expertise in AI tools.

- Entry-level positions are disappearing, raising concerns about how future senior developers will gain experience.

- Graduates feel disillusioned, as the skills they spent years mastering are being rendered obsolete by automation.

🏫 The Role of Big Tech in Education

- Tech companies have outsized influence on school curricula, shaping what students learn to align with industry needs.

- Natasha Singer warns of a recurring pattern: tech companies push schools to adopt the latest hyped thing (e.g., coding, now AI) without sufficient scrutiny.

- Companies like Microsoft and Google are now pivoting to AI education, with billion-dollar initiatives to train students in AI tools.