Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept. In U.S. offices, AI tools have already replaced tasks once handled by entry level tech workers. Customer support teams have been reduced as chatbots handle basic interactions. Junior developers are writing less code as managers adopt AI assistants like GitHub Copilot. And QA testers — once a staple entry point into IT — have taken a huge hit as companies shift routine testing to automated frameworks or outsource entire QA departments overseas.
The disruption has been widespread. In 2023, more than 191,000 U.S. tech employees lost their jobs, followed by another 95,700 in 2024. So far in 2025, nearly 141,600 workers have been affected by layoffs across almost 500 tech firms. A Stanford study found that entry level roles in software and support for workers aged 22 to 25 dropped by 6 to 13 percent since 2022. By contrast, more experienced employees in the same fields actually saw employment rise.
The IT roles most exposed to AI disruption in U.S. offices include:
- Customer Support Specialists: Basic troubleshooting shifted to chatbots.
- Junior Developers: Entry level coding absorbed by AI assistants.
- QA Testers: Routine test cases automated or shifted to lower cost overseas teams.
These were once the stepping stone jobs for people starting a tech career. Now they are shrinking the fastest.
Tech Job Trends in the U.S.
- Tech sector layoffs: 191,000 in 2023, 95,700 in 2024, and 141,600 so far in 2025.
- Entry level IT roles for young professionals declined 6–13% since 2022.
- National job openings fell from 12 million in 2022 to about 7.18 million in July 2025.
- The unemployment rate edged up to 4.3%, reflecting a cautious hiring climate.
TechFios Sees Opportunity in the AI Era
Against this backdrop, TechFios, a Dallas based IT training institute with a campus in Irving, Texas, is positioning itself as a bridge for displaced workers. The company has expanded its programs beyond QA and DevOps into cybersecurity, Identity and Access Management (IAM), and machine learning — skills that employers are still struggling to hire for.
Enrico Gonsalves, Placement Specialist at TechFios, explained:
“Since there are a lot of layoffs happening, everyone thinks there are no IT jobs. But the truth is, there are IT jobs. There are many openings in AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity, especially Identity and Access Management. At this moment, IAM and cybersecurity roles are in high demand and can not be easily outsourced. Many people come to TechFios after they get laid off from testing and developer jobs. We train them in machine learning and cybersecurity. There are plenty of jobs opening up, and we are focusing on the ones that can not be outsourced overseas. While other bootcamps are shutting down, we are thriving. Our job placements are 25 percent higher than other bootcamps. We have a beautiful facility in Irving, Texas, and we also received a Congressional Award.”
Market Signals Ali
Government projections confirm the split. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects nearly 18 percent growth in software developer roles through 2033, far above average. Cybersecurity and database related jobs are forecast to expand 8 to 11 percent.
IAM is emerging as one of the most resilient areas. As cyberattacks grow in speed and scale, companies require human oversight to enforce access policies and meet compliance standards. Similarly, DevOps engineers remain critical to oversee deployments, while applied machine learning is driving new business opportunities that demand trained staff.
Training as a Bridge
For QA testers and junior developers who have seen their work automated or moved overseas, retraining is becoming a lifeline. TechFios positions itself as one of the few training providers adapting to this AI driven reality rather than being swept aside by it.
By focusing on cybersecurity, IAM, machine learning, and supervisory IT roles, TechFios is showing that while automation has shrunk traditional entry points into the industry, new and more secure career paths are wide open.The numbers make one thing clear. AI is reshaping the American IT workforce faster than most expected. Entry level developers, QA testers, and support staff have taken the brunt of the impact, with tens of thousands of jobs automated or moved overseas. Layoffs in the tech sector have surged, and younger workers trying to enter the industry are finding fewer opportunities on the bottom rung.
Yet this is not the end of the IT career path. Roles in cybersecurity, Identity and Access Management, DevOps, and applied machine learning remain resilient — and in many cases are expanding. These are jobs that require supervision, accountability, and decision making that AI can not replicate.
TechFios is betting on that future. By retraining displaced workers and preparing them for high demand, non-outsourced roles, the institute has become one of the few training providers thriving in the AI era. Its placement rates, new programs, and Congressional recognition send a simple message: there are still IT jobs, and the right training can get you hired.
For workers worried about being replaced, the choice is no longer whether AI will change the industry. It already has. The real question is whether you are training for the jobs that AI can not do.
