Rakib Bin Momen has been searching for a job for four months. A mid-level software engineer, he left a local firm last year to take up a remote role with an overseas company. But when that company suddenly shut down, he found himself back in the job market — one that now feels markedly tighter.
“Vacancies are clearly shrinking,” he says, after knocking on one door after another without success.
His experience reflects a broader shift under way across the global technology sector, where the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping hiring patterns, displacing some roles and redefining others. The result is a growing sense of uncertainty, particularly among early-career professionals.
A report by Goldman Sachs estimates that AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs worldwide. While such projections remain debated, recent labour market data suggests the impact is already being felt.
By early March 2026, companies had confirmed 45,363 layoffs across the global tech sector, with roughly 9,238 — or 20.4% — explicitly linked to AI and automation. That marks a sharp rise from 2025, when fewer than 8% of layoffs cited AI as a factor.
At the same time, hiring patterns are shifting. A report by SignalFire, a multinational technology company, found that entry-level recruitment at the 15 largest technology firms fell by 25% between 2023 and 2024.
Data from LinkedIn shows a contrasting trend: AI-related job postings have surged by 340% since 2024, while traditional software engineering roles have declined by 15%.
Industry insiders say the effects are beginning to ripple into Bangladesh’s software sector, where entry-level professionals are facing growing difficulty securing roles.
Aminul Bari Shuvro, chief strategy officer at Synesis IT, describes the impact as profound. “It is an extraordinary shift,” he says. “There is no doubt AI is delivering a serious blow to certain types of jobs.” Those without a strong grasp of software architecture, he adds, are finding it increasingly difficult to remain competitive.
Recruitment decisions, he notes, are becoming more cautious. In many cases, when an employee leaves, companies are opting not to fill the vacancy.
AHM Rashed Sorwar, Director at Tiger IT, echoes that sentiment, saying his organisation is also taking a conservative approach to hiring, with some vacant positions left unfilled.
Yet the same technologies disrupting jobs are also boosting productivity.
Shuvro says tasks that once took around two weeks can now be completed in a fraction of the time. Another software engineer, speaking on condition of anonymity, says work that previously required a full day can now be done within one to two hours using agentic AI tools.
For some, however, the slowdown in hiring cannot be explained by technology alone. Sorwar points to a parallel challenge: the suspension of government-backed projects initiated under the previous administration. Many of these have remained stalled under the interim government.
“No new projects have been launched yet,” he says. “Once they resume, we expect the sector to regain some momentum, and hiring may pick up again.”
Academics urge a more measured perspective. Abdur Razzak, chairman of the Computer Science and Engineering department at the University of Dhaka, says technological disruption is not new — but its pace is accelerating.
“There is no need for panic,” he says. “While demand for basic programming may decline, human roles in design, planning, evaluation and innovation will remain essential.”
He emphasises the need for continuous skills development, arguing that lifelong relevance of a single skillset is no longer realistic. The department, he notes, has long been engaged in AI research and recently introduced a professional master’s programme in AI and data engineering to equip learners with advanced tools and techniques.
The implications of AI extend beyond software engineering. According to the World Economic Forum, customer service, call centres, data entry and clerical roles are among the most vulnerable.
Automation could affect up to 80% of customer service tasks, as AI-powered chatbots and voice agents increasingly handle frontline support. In data entry, the risk is even higher: up to 95% of roles could be automated, with AI systems capable of processing more than 1,000 documents per hour with minimal error.
Despite the upheaval, industry experts stress that AI is also creating new opportunities — though not for everyone equally. The challenge, they say, lies in adaptation.
For workers like Rakib, the shift is already deeply personal. For the industry as a whole, it signals a turning point: one where survival may depend less on experience alone and more on the ability to evolve alongside the technology reshaping it.
Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam says there is no concrete evidence yet to support claims that AI has led to large-scale layoffs — such as reported cuts of 25–30% — in Bangladesh’s software sector. He notes that AI adoption in the country is still at an early stage and that government monitoring has not identified any significant job risks in the ICT industry so far, though he has pledged to review the situation.
At the same time, he describes AI as a highly positive force for the future, saying it could deliver “remarkable” outcomes for development if used properly. He adds that many young Bangladeshis are already pursuing AI-related education and work abroad. To prepare the workforce, the government plans to roll out AI and freelancing training programmes across 495 upazilas.
