The number of software engineering positions hits a three-year high, with a16z co-founder Andreessen saying the AI unemployment theory "is all fake"

Venture capital firm a16z co-founder Marc Andreessen reposted a Business Insider article on X, adding that the narrative that "AI causes unemployment" "is all fake," and that the productivity leap brought by AI will translate into demand explosions, ultimately creating many new jobs. He listed three driving factors: the recovery from employers overhiring after the pandemic, the rebound from post-pandemic interest rate hikes, and the demand elasticity released by efficiency improvements.
The article he reposted cited statistics from tech recruitment data company TrueUp. TrueUp tracks over 260k open positions at about 9,000 tech companies. Data shows that the current number of software engineering jobs exceeds 67,000, the highest level in over three years, roughly doubling the low point in mid-2023. Since 2026, the number of open positions has increased by about 30%.
TrueUp founder Amit Taylor said, "Many claims that 'AI is replacing engineers' are not supported by recruitment data, at least for now." He pointed out that AI-related positions are "growing explosively," but competition for entry-level roles has indeed become more intense because the number of people studying computer science has increased significantly. "Jobs haven't disappeared, but the competition is much fiercer than five years ago."