N※N

Computer science grads used to be a hot commodity -- now they fear they're being replaced by AI

  //science-technology.news-articles.net/content/2 .. -now-they-fear-they-re-being-replaced-by-ai.html
  Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, October 14th 2025 at 6:46 GMT by Toronto Star
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

310x163/8080 Bytes

310x163/10111 Bytes

310x163/13124 Bytes

Computer‑Science Graduates Once a Hot Commodity Now Fear They’re Being Replaced

In a striking reversal of the tech industry’s appetite for fresh talent, recent surveys show that many new computer‑science (CS) graduates who once commanded premium salaries and a steady stream of job offers now feel increasingly insecure about their career prospects. A Toronto Star feature, “Computer science grads used to be a hot commodity; now they fear they’re being replaced,” chronicles this unsettling trend and explores its roots in shifting labor markets, rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), and changing employer expectations.

The “Hot Commodity” Era

For several years, CS majors were among the most sought‑after professionals in Canada. Recruiters from startups to Fortune 500 companies praised the discipline for producing graduates with strong analytical skills, a knack for problem‑solving, and a deep knowledge of programming languages. According to data cited in the article, the average starting salary for a CS graduate in 2015 hovered around $70,000 CAD, while by 2018 the average had climbed to $80,000–$90,000 CAD. The rapid rise in tech job listings—especially in Toronto, Vancouver, and the Greater Toronto Area—made CS degrees a “golden ticket” for many students.

The article quotes former CEO of a Montreal‑based fintech, Maya Patel, who recalls how in 2017 “companies would pay top dollar for any new CS grad who could write code in Python or Java.” Patents from that period highlighted how CS skills were viewed as the backbone of fintech, AI, and cloud‑based services.

The Shift to a Saturated Market

However, the article points out that supply outpaced demand in the early 2020s. A 2021 report from the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) noted that CS programs had expanded by 50% nationwide, while the number of CS‑specific job openings plateaued. By 2023, the Toronto Star’s author cited data from the Canadian Institute for the Future of Work that indicated a 15% decline in CS‑directed hiring, as companies increasingly turned to cross‑disciplinary talent and “full‑stack” developers who could manage both front‑end and back‑end responsibilities.

The piece highlights a telling example from a survey conducted by the University of Toronto’s School of Computer Science: 58% of recent grads felt “uncertain about job stability,” and 41% reported that their potential employers required “more than just coding skills, such as business strategy or data analytics.” This trend reflects a broader shift toward “product‑first” hiring, where knowledge of user experience, product design, and agile project management has become equally valued as raw programming talent.

AI and Automation: A New Threat

Central to the article’s narrative is the rapid rise of generative AI models, such as OpenAI’s GPT‑4 and Microsoft’s Copilot, which are increasingly capable of generating syntactically correct code, debugging errors, and even writing documentation. The article references a Bloomberg analysis (link followed) that predicted that by 2035, up to 30% of routine coding tasks could be automated, leading to “significant displacement of junior developers.” In a recent interview, a senior software engineer from Toronto’s open‑source community remarked that “today’s code assistants can write a full CRUD application in an hour, something that previously required days of collaborative effort.”

A linked Forbes piece (link followed) provided a deeper dive into how AI is not just automating tasks but also reshaping hiring criteria. According to the article, employers now favor candidates who can “train and fine‑tune” models, rather than those who simply write code. This places CS graduates who have limited exposure to machine‑learning pipelines at a disadvantage.

Employers’ Evolving Expectations

The Star article includes several employer perspectives. A senior recruiter at a Toronto‑based cloud‑services firm explains that while coding knowledge remains essential, “the most successful hires are those who can articulate the business value of their work.” Another software architect from a Vancouver startup emphasizes the importance of “cross‑functional collaboration,” noting that junior developers who can speak fluent English, negotiate with stakeholders, and present technical solutions stand out.

These narratives underscore a trend that many CS programs are only beginning to address. The article cites an initiative by the University of British Columbia that integrates data‑science, product management, and UX design modules into the CS curriculum, aiming to produce graduates who are “ready for the modern, interdisciplinary tech landscape.”

Graduate Sentiment and Future Outlook

The piece concludes with a sobering look at graduate sentiment. Over 60% of surveyed CS graduates admitted to experiencing “job‑search anxiety,” and 32% reported that they had to accept roles outside their field of study to secure employment. The article emphasizes that this anxiety is not merely a function of economic downturns; it reflects a fundamental shift in how the industry values specialized coding skills versus a broader set of competencies.

While the article remains cautious, it also offers hopeful notes. Some employers are turning to “reskilling programs” and “micro‑credentialing” to help existing CS professionals transition into new roles, such as AI ethics, data privacy, or technical project management. Universities are also responding by partnering with industry to provide real‑world project experience and soft‑skill training.

In sum, the Toronto Star’s feature paints a complex picture of a profession that has gone from being the most coveted to a field in flux. CS graduates, once prized for their coding prowess, now find themselves navigating an economy where technology can do more of the coding and where employers look beyond syntax to the bigger picture. The article ends with a reminder that “the future of CS may not be a threat, but an evolution.”