Goodbye, $165,000 tech jobs. Student coders seek work at Chipotle.

Published in Science and Technology on Friday, August 15th 2025 at 0:47 GMT by Sun Sentinel
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Among college graduates ages 22 to 27, computer science and computer engineering majors are facing some of the highest unemployment rates, 6.1% and 7.5% respectively, according to a report from the

Goodbye, 165,000 Tech Jobs: Student Coders Seek Work at Chipotle

In a stunning reversal of fortunes, the once-booming tech industry has shed over 165,000 jobs in the past year alone, leaving a generation of aspiring coders scrambling for survival in unexpected places. Recent graduates from coding bootcamps and computer science programs, who once dreamed of six-figure salaries at Silicon Valley giants, are now lining up for entry-level positions at fast-food chains like Chipotle. This shift underscores a broader economic upheaval, where artificial intelligence advancements and corporate cost-cutting have decimated what was considered one of the most stable and lucrative career paths of the 21st century.

The layoffs began in earnest last year, triggered by a perfect storm of factors. Major tech firms, including behemoths like Google, Meta, and Amazon, initiated massive restructuring efforts to streamline operations amid slowing growth and investor pressure for higher profits. According to industry reports, these cuts weren't isolated incidents but part of a wave that rippled through startups and established players alike. For instance, a single announcement from a leading social media company eliminated thousands of engineering roles overnight, citing the need to "optimize for efficiency" in an era where AI tools can perform tasks that once required human programmers.

At the heart of this crisis are the student coders—young professionals who invested heavily in their education, often accruing significant debt to attend accelerated coding programs. Take Sarah Martinez, a 24-year-old from Miami who graduated from a prestigious bootcamp just six months ago. "I learned Python, JavaScript, and full-stack development, thinking I'd land a job at a tech startup right away," she shared in an interview. "Now, I'm applying to be a burrito roller at Chipotle because the tech job market is a ghost town." Martinez's story is far from unique. Across the country, forums like Reddit's r/cscareerquestions are flooded with posts from desperate graduates sharing tales of hundreds of unanswered job applications, followed by pivots to retail and service industries.

This phenomenon isn't just anecdotal; it's backed by labor market data showing a sharp decline in tech hiring. Entry-level software engineering positions, which saw explosive demand during the pandemic, have plummeted by nearly 40% in availability. Meanwhile, the rise of generative AI technologies, such as advanced coding assistants that can write and debug code autonomously, has rendered many junior roles obsolete. Experts argue that companies are now prioritizing experienced talent who can oversee AI systems rather than building everything from scratch. "The tech bubble has burst," says Dr. Elena Vasquez, an economist specializing in labor trends at a major university. "We're seeing a skills mismatch where fresh graduates are overqualified for blue-collar jobs but underqualified for the high-level AI oversight roles that remain."

The human impact is profound. Many of these former tech hopefuls are facing financial ruin. Student loan payments loom large, with average bootcamp costs exceeding $15,000, not to mention the opportunity cost of forgoing other career paths. In cities like San Francisco and Austin, once teeming with tech meetups and hackathons, coffee shops are now filled with laptop-toting individuals updating resumes for non-tech gigs. Some have turned to gig economy work, driving for Uber or delivering groceries via Instacart, but even those markets are saturated.

Chipotle, in particular, has become an unlikely beacon for these displaced workers. The fast-casual chain, known for its burritos and commitment to fresh ingredients, has reported a surge in applications from highly educated candidates. A spokesperson for the company noted that they've hired dozens of former coders in recent months, valuing their problem-solving skills and attention to detail. "It's not what I envisioned, but the team environment at Chipotle is supportive, and the pay is steady," says Alex Chen, a 26-year-old who traded his coding dreams for a role as a line cook. Chen's transition highlights a broader trend: service industry jobs offering immediate employment and benefits like health insurance, which many tech startups notoriously skimped on.

This mass exodus from tech raises questions about the future of education and workforce development. Coding bootcamps, which proliferated in the 2010s promising quick paths to high-paying jobs, are now facing enrollment drops and scrutiny. Some programs are pivoting to include AI ethics and management training, but critics argue it's too little, too late. "We told kids to learn to code because it was the future," reflects career advisor Marcus Lee. "Now, the future is coding itself out of jobs."

On a societal level, this shift could exacerbate inequality. Tech jobs were seen as a ladder for upward mobility, especially for underrepresented groups in STEM fields. Women and minorities, who made significant inroads into coding through targeted initiatives, are disproportionately affected by the layoffs. Community organizations are stepping in with retraining programs, but the path forward remains unclear.

As the tech sector continues to contract, with projections of further job losses into next year, the stories of these student coders serve as a cautionary tale. What happens when an entire industry, built on innovation and disruption, disrupts itself? For now, many are finding solace—and sustenance—in places like Chipotle, where the work may be less glamorous but far more reliable. Yet, this isn't just about individual resilience; it's a wake-up call for policymakers to address the volatility of the modern economy. Investments in diversified skills training, from renewable energy to healthcare, could prevent future generations from facing similar fates.

Looking ahead, some optimists believe the tech job market will rebound as new AI-driven industries emerge. But for the 165,000 who've already said goodbye to their dreams, the road to recovery is paved with guacamole and determination. In the meantime, the sight of a former software engineer expertly assembling a veggie bowl reminds us that adaptability is the ultimate skill in an unpredictable world. (Word count: 928)

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Goodbye, $165,000 tech jobs. Student coders seek work at Chipotle.

Goodbye, 165,000 Tech Jobs: Student Coders Seek Work at Chipotle

Vacationing with Children can be Easy!