Leading computer science professor says 'everybody' is struggling to get jobs

CS curricula and fundamentals

• Several commenters blame weaker US CS curricula—less hardware, OS, architecture, and theory, more “easy” electives—for making many new grads less competitive, especially for cybersecurity, infra, and ML-infra roles.
• Comparisons are made to more standardized, math‑heavy and low‑level‑oriented programs in Israel, India, Eastern Europe, and China, which some say produce graduates with stronger fundamentals.
• Others counter that nitty‑gritty details (e.g., eBPF internals) aren’t essential for entry‑level work; what matters is problem‑solving ability and core CS concepts, which should be teachable on the job in months—if the foundations are solid.
• There’s concern that CS programs are being “bootcampified” and driven by “market fit” rather than deep understanding, and some harsh criticism of teaching quality and pedagogy in general.

Oversupply and market conditions

• One thread points to a large growth in CS majors over the last few years, driven by outsized FAANG compensation, creating an oversupply just as hiring cooled.
• Remote work has expanded global competition, further pressuring new grads’ prospects and salaries.
• A CS professor reports most graduates from their (R1) program still find jobs, but lower‑GPA students struggle more and offers are less lucrative; they reject the claim that “everybody” is struggling.

Immigration, H1B, and offshoring

• A long subthread argues that H1B and offshore labor let companies replace US grads with lower‑paid workers who have fewer options, depressing wages and opportunities.
• Others emphasize that high‑skill immigrants are central to US tech leadership and innovation, and that eliminating them would cause brain drain and more offshoring rather than more US hiring.
• Multiple comments describe exploitation of H1B workers via visa dependence and implicit pressure to accept long hours or poor treatment.
• Proposed reforms: scaled visa costs for large users, easier job mobility, and realistic paths to permanent residency.

AI, cost-cutting, and job types

• Some say AI is being used rhetorically to justify layoffs while companies quietly increase cheaper foreign headcount; they see cost‑cutting, not automation, as primary.
• Others suggest parts of the “internet build‑out” are now mature, so maintenance needs fewer developers.
• Commenters distinguish between CS research, IT/internal systems, startups, and product companies, and note that jobs still exist—especially outside hot hubs or in domains like biotech—but may pay less and/or require relocation.