**The big picture:** New data reveals a significant decline in junior engineering hires since 2019, while senior tech hiring remains stable, largely due to the adoption of AI coding tools. **Why it matters:** This shift creates a long-term talent pipeline problem for companies, as fewer junior engineers are being trained for future senior roles. **Between the lines:** - Entry-level coding hires dropped by approximately 50-65% since 2019. - Early-stage startups cut junior hiring by about 76%. - AI tools excel at basic coding tasks, reducing the need for entry-level support. **Staffing & HR impact:** Staffing firms will face challenges sourcing experienced engineers in the future, as the pool of internally developed talent shrinks, potentially increasing recruitment costs and time-to-fill for senior roles. Companies must rethink talent development strategies to avoid future skills gaps. **The bottom line:** While AI boosts immediate senior engineer productivity, it creates a critical future talent deficit.