They have moved rather than vanished. Fewer juniors are hired through big graduate schemes and job boards, and more through smaller companies, non-tech companies building software, adjacent roles like QA, data and support engineering, internships that convert, apprenticeships, and referrals. Aim your search at those doors and bring visible proof of work.
What people tell me
I graduated in computer science in the UK or the US and the junior developer roles I expected have mostly disappeared. Graduate schemes are tiny, job boards get hundreds of applicants per post, and people say AI is replacing juniors. I am still applying, but I need to know where junior developers are actually being hired now, so I stop wasting time.
A composite of the messages behind this question, with personal details left out.
Key takeaways
- UK and US data show weaker entry-level hiring since 2022, and graduate adverts fell sharply in 2026.
- Junior hiring has shifted to smaller companies, non-tech employers and adjacent technical roles.
- Internships, apprenticeships and contract roles convert into permanent jobs more often than cold applications.
- Referrals and direct outreach beat mass applying on crowded boards.
- Visible proof of work is what gets a junior shortlisted now.
What changed
Entry-level software hiring has been weaker since the 2021 to 2022 boom ended. In the UK, Indeed Hiring Lab's August 2026 snapshot said new entrants are bearing the brunt of weak hiring, and Adzuna data showed a sharp fall in advertised graduate vacancies, though employer surveys suggest total graduate hiring fell less than adverts did. In the US, research on young developers' employment has shown a decline since 2022. AI tools have absorbed some classic junior tasks, and teams that cut graduate schemes have been slow to restart them.
None of this means juniors are not hired. It means the obvious front doors are narrower.
Where juniors are getting hired
| Door | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Small companies and scale-ups | They rarely run graduate schemes, so they do not show up as "graduate jobs", but they hire juniors who can ship |
| Non-tech companies with software teams | Banks, retailers, logistics, health and public sector teams need developers and get fewer applicants |
| Adjacent roles | QA automation, data analyst, support engineer, solutions engineer, IT and DevOps support often lead into development |
| Internships and placements | Conversion to a full role is still one of the strongest paths |
| Apprenticeships (UK) | Degree and higher apprenticeships in software are a real route |
| Contract and agency work | Short contracts build the experience permanent roles ask for |
| Referrals | Your application gets read by a person |
How to change your search
- Cut mass applying. Ten well-aimed applications with a tailored note beat a hundred clicks. How many jobs should I apply to per day? explains why.
- Build a target list of 30 to 50 companies, including non-tech employers near you, and check their own careers pages weekly.
- Ask for referrals properly. How do I cold message recruiters and ask for referrals? has templates.
- Apply to adjacent roles on purpose, with a plan to move internally after a year.
- Show proof. What does proof of work mean for a fresher developer? explains what counts.
- Show you use AI well. Teams want juniors who make AI tools productive, not juniors who compete with them. Which AI tools do employers expect junior developers to know? covers this.
Read more
Graduate tech jobs in the UK has the full 2026 data and visa notes for international graduates. The job search roadmap and the layoffs and AI roadmap cover a search in a tough market.
A weekly search routine
| Day | Action |
|---|---|
| Monday | Check careers pages of your target list; apply to two or three well-matched roles |
| Tuesday | Send two referral or informational messages |
| Wednesday | Improve your project or portfolio for one hour |
| Thursday | Apply to one adjacent role and one smaller company |
| Friday | Follow up on applications older than a week; update your tracker |
Small, steady actions beat bursts of mass applying followed by burnout.
For international graduates
Check sponsor status before investing time in a company, and use any remaining visa time to build experience. How do I find companies that sponsor visas? explains how.
If you are still stuck
If it is wearing you down, read How do I deal with rejection after many job applications?. If you want help aiming your search, join Sefism and, as a member, book a 1:1 session.
Was this answer helpful?
Read next
- Graduate Tech Jobs in the UK in 2026: Why It Is Hard and What WorksUK graduate tech vacancies fell sharply in 2026 and the Graduate visa shrinks to 18 months from January 2027. The latest data, the visa clock for international students, and the channels that are still getting graduates hired.
- A Job Search Is a Pipeline, Not a PerformanceThe job search strategy that works is a pipeline, not a string of hopeful applications. Thirteen heuristics for the mechanics you control: tailoring, referrals, how many to keep live, tracking the funnel, interviews, follow ups and offers.
Your situation is not quite this one?
Members get written answers to their own questions, a roadmap built for them and feedback on their projects. Early access is open: sign up and your account is active shortly after. Prefer to talk? A free call works too.