Pretty grim, let’s not kid ourselves.
For the first time in a long while — or perhaps simply for the first time ever — we’re seeing highly qualified IT professionals (software engineers, systems engineers, etc.) posting on LinkedIn that they are actively looking for a job.
Crazy stuff!
At the same time, we’re witnessing mass layoffs day after day, and not only in large organizations like Amazon or Facebook, but also in early-stage start-ups.
Yet, in parallel, we keep hearing the same refrain: many companies claim they can’t find the profiles they need.
So, where’s the problem?
As in any crisis, it’s a mismatch between supply and demand.
Here, our hypothesis is as good as yours, but we believe many companies are in the midst of a strong automation process driven by the rise of AI.
This means that many lower value-added tasks, which used to be carried out by more junior staff, are being handed over to silicon minds, under the supervision of very senior human profiles.
Because let’s be honest: human judgment is still essential.
IA hallucinates frequently. It often tells us what we want to hear.
It is worth noting, though, that platforms such as Cursor or Claude are becoming quite specialized in programming, and getting more proactive.
It can now analyze code, propose structural improvements, extract components for reuse, reduce duplication… all of this autonomously, without having to ask it step by step for each task.
Improvements are exponential. We’re talking about the possibility that, within months, it could surpass many mid-senior programmers.
As a result, there’s a significant imbalance between less experienced professionals, who become redundant, and highly experienced professionals, who become critical and, consequently, highly sought after.
And of course, there’s a limited number of senior profiles — compounded by the fact that as junior roles are phased out, they are not being replenished.
So how do we fix this?
Honestly, there’s no magic formula.
One possible path is specialization or reskilling into new career paths. New professions are being “created,” and it’s clear they’re more accessible to profiles with a certain technical background.
This can be achieved through very targeted training or by sacrificing some seniority — with the corresponding pay cut — in order to gain real-world experience.
This leads us to another uncomfortable truth: the era of abundance has come to an end. The market is correcting, and this inevitably forces a reassessment of expectations.
The days of skipping jobs every six months for an extra €5K are over. You may have to accept a new role that’s paid worse than your previous one, if you are in need.
That said, not everything is negative, so let us offer some perspective. The market has always been cyclical. Companies are being cautious when hiring and are looking for alternative ways forward.
Everything will depend on whether AI truly establishes itself as a revolution or turns into the next bubble.
In either case, once we become more accustomed to it and its real limitations are clearer, it will be easier to size teams appropriately.
New business models will emerge, and with them, new companies that will need skilled workers. Supply and demand will gradually find their balance again.
Or so we believe!
Note to our readers:
It’s been a while, we know. And for no particular reason.
No lack of motivation. But one day, you just run out of ideas. When that happens, you may force it. Write anything just for the sake of it. But that’s not who we are.
Silence can be a virtue in this time of overflooding content. Here we are again, welcome back.
Muses visited us again.