Over the past three months, the job market for software engineers has remained flat, with a slight downward trend as shown in the graph above generated by Candogram Inc. Several factors may contribute to this stagnation, including a slowdown in venture capital investment across most areas of the tech sector, except for generative AI. Additionally, many tech companies are shifting their focus from aggressive growth to boosting productivity and operational efficiency, driven by the adoption of AI-powered development tools. According to Bloomberg, Microsoft recently announced plans to cut approximately 6,000 jobs across the company. In New York City, companies such as IBM have also laid off software engineers. Meanwhile, CrowdStrike’s CEO revealed that the company will reduce its global workforce by 5%, citing increased efficiency enabled by AI tools. These developments reflect a broader industry trend toward integrating AI into the workforce, often at the expense of software engineering roles. As part of a broader effort to improve transparency around workforce changes driven by emerging technologies, companies filing WARN notices with the New York State Department of Labor are now required to disclose whether layoffs are related to the use or implementation of AI. This builds on Gov. Hochul’s announced plan to require employers to report AI-related layoffs and integrate that data into the WARN system moving forward. The initiative enables workers, unions, and policymakers to monitor emerging trends in tech-related job losses and applies to employers with 50 or more full-time employees. As part of the FY26 Enacted Budget, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced an expansion of the state’s AI strategy, highlighted by a $90 million investment to grow the Empire AI consortium. The consortium consists of seven leading New York universities and research institutions to promote responsible research and opportunities focused on advancing the public good. This expansion will increase access for SUNY researchers and support the addition of new members, such as the University of Rochester, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. For software engineers, some key skills sought for by employers include Python, Amazon Web Services (AWS) TensorFlow User Group (TFUG), and PyTorch. Some major companies hiring in New York City include JPMorganChase, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, and Capital One. Companies like Cohere and OpenAI are expanding their presence in the city, further driving demand for software engineers. On top of Cohere’s new office opening, OpenAI is looking to lease 60,000 square feet of office space in New York. By Xin Yi He Cen #jobmarket #nyc #softwareengineers #candogram
