The 2026 AI Index from Stanford HAI shows a significant decline in employment for young software developers since the mainstream use of generative AI tools in late 2022. This trend is specific to AI-exposed roles, while occupations with low AI exposure are experiencing steady or growing employment across all age groups. The productivity gains from AI in software development are leading to a decline in entry-level jobs, with experienced workers in the same roles seeing growth. This pattern is also observed in other professions like customer service and accounting. The trend is expected to accelerate, with AI expected to shrink the workforce in service and software sectors.

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