Entry-Level Data Engineering Is Gone. Here's the Proof.

Data engineering entry-level positions have dropped 67% since generative AI went mainstream, with only 3% of job postings explicitly requiring 2 years of experience or less. This is due to AI automating junior tasks, making the traditional learning pathway obsolete. As a result, engineering leaders plan to hire fewer juniors, and new grad hires have decreased significantly. Total data engineering hiring has grown, but the number of entry-level positions has not kept pace.