Why the Fed Can’t Rescue Struggling Young Tech Workers

 

Thousands of young Americans armed with computer science degrees are finding it increasingly difficult to land jobs in the tech industry. Despite recent efforts by the Federal Reserve to stimulate hiring by lowering interest rates, the reality is that monetary policy alone cannot fix the deeper problems reshaping the technology labor market.

The Fed began cutting rates last month and is expected to do so again soon, hoping to make it cheaper for companies to borrow and expand. But many employers, especially in tech, remain cautious amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s economic and trade policies. The combination of unpredictable tariffs and rapid advances in artificial intelligence has created a volatile environment where entry-level hiring has stalled.

Rate Cuts Can’t Solve Policy or AI Uncertainty

While lower borrowing costs generally encourage businesses to grow, they don’t address structural or policy-driven challenges. As Indeed economist Laura Ullrich noted, “The labor market has been frozen up because people are having a hard time making decisions.” Without clarity on future trade and economic policy, companies remain hesitant to commit to new hires.

The turbulence began when the Trump administration introduced sweeping tariffs earlier this year under the “Liberation Day” initiative. Although several trade deals have since been announced, major uncertainties persist — from tensions with Canada to ongoing disputes with China over rare earth exports. Businesses, unsure of what comes next, are holding back on hiring plans despite the Fed’s efforts to make credit cheaper.

A recent Conference Board survey of 130 CEOs found that nearly 70% intend to either maintain or reduce their workforce over the next six months. Leaders described their economic outlook as turning from “neutral to pessimistic,” suggesting that the Fed’s monetary easing has not yet translated into confidence among employers.

AI’s Disruption Hits Entry-Level Tech Workers Hard

Even if trade concerns eased, automation poses a longer-term problem. Artificial intelligence is transforming how companies operate, particularly in technology. Routine programming, quality testing, and data analysis — once the bread and butter of junior tech jobs — are increasingly automated.

Fed Governor Christopher Waller recently acknowledged that AI adoption will likely lead to more layoffs and fewer entry-level openings, especially for college-educated workers. While he argued that the long-term benefits of AI will eventually outweigh the costs, today’s graduates are feeling the immediate pain.

According to Indeed data, job postings in computer and mathematical fields have fallen 35% since early 2020, with roles like software developers and designers seeing the steepest declines. Meanwhile, positions tied to AI and data center management have surged, highlighting a significant mismatch between graduates’ skills and current demand.

Matthew Martin, senior economist at Oxford Economics, explained that this imbalance is structural: “Computer and mathematical science occupations are disproportionately exposed to automation and displacement.”

A Generation in Transition

The Conference Board also found that over half of CEOs expect AI to transform at least 50% of jobs in their organizations within the next five years. For young computer science graduates, that means the traditional path into tech may no longer exist in the same way.

Abraham Rubio, a recent graduate from Bloomfield College, summed up the struggle: “It feels like I’m competing with AI just to get my foot in the door.”

Until the uncertainty surrounding global trade settles — and the job market adjusts to the realities of automation — no amount of rate cuts from the Federal Reserve can restore the easy hiring environment that once defined America’s tech boom.