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Introduction: Why Junior Developer Jobs Are Vanishing — Even in WordPress Development
There was a time when becoming a junior developer — including a junior WordPress developer — was the perfect entry point into the tech industry. You’d graduate from college, maybe complete a coding bootcamp, and companies would actually compete to bring you on.
I graduated in 2014. Today, I run a WordPress development agency, hiring developers, mentoring junior talent, and building custom WordPress solutions for clients across Canada. Over the past decade, I’ve watched the industry shift dramatically — especially for people trying to land their first WordPress or software development role.
This article explains:
- Why junior developer jobs used to be everywhere
- How the landscape changed
- Why WordPress development became more competitive
- How AI reshaped entry-level expectations
- Why outsourcing wiped out beginner jobs
- And how aspiring WordPress developers can still break into the field
If you’re entering tech — whether general software or WordPress development — this breakdown will help you understand where the opportunities went and how to create your own.
The Early Tech Era: When Juniors Learned Through Trial by Fire
In the early 2010s, companies weren’t afraid to hire junior developers and throw them directly into real projects:
- Messy legacy code
- Zero documentation
- No code walkthroughs
- No onboarding
- “Figure it out by Tuesday” deadlines
Back then, even beginner WordPress developers were given real client sites to work on. The industry had more demand than supply, so companies gave juniors a chance — even if they weren’t fully prepared.
The App Boom: The First Big Opportunity Surge
The App Store explosion accelerated everything.
- 2008: Apple App Store launches with 500 apps
- Today: 4+ million apps across Apple & Google Play
Demand for developers — including mobile, web, and WordPress development — skyrocketed. If you could write even basic Objective-C, Java, or PHP, it was common to get hired quickly.
This was the beginning of the junior developer boom.
2015–2019: Peak Demand for Developers and WordPress Talent
Between 2015 and 2019, the tech world experienced a golden era:
- Cloud computing took over
- Businesses went digital
- IoT was everywhere
- Startups grew rapidly
During this time, WordPress development exploded in popularity. Millions of new businesses needed websites, and WordPress became the go-to platform. Agencies like mine hired juniors to handle:
- Theme customization
- Plugin setup
- Website maintenance
- Bug fixes
- Content updates
If you knew how to code, companies wanted you immediately.
COVID-19: The Digital Surge That Transformed WordPress Development
When COVID hit, every business needed to go online — instantly.
In Canada, the CDAP program offered up to $2,400 CAD to help small businesses digitize. That meant thousands of businesses needed:
- New WordPress websites
- Online booking systems
- E-commerce stores
- Automation
- Payment integration
For a moment, it felt like the demand would last forever. WordPress developers — at all levels — were hiring gold.
But then the market shifted.
The Collapse: Why Junior Developer Jobs Disappeared Overnight
After the digital boom came inflation, interest rate hikes, and massive tech layoffs. Companies went from “grow fast” to “cut fast.”
And the first roles eliminated were:
➡️ Junior developers, including junior WordPress developers
Why?
- Juniors require training
- They slow teams down at first
- Budgets were tight
- Companies needed immediate output
This economic shift alone would have been damaging — but AI changed everything even more.
AI Tools Raised the Bar: Juniors Must Now Perform at Mid-Level
Tools like:
- ChatGPT
- Claude
- GitHub Copilot
…transformed developer productivity. Even in WordPress development, AI can:
- Generate PHP
- Build custom functions
- Write CSS
- Create Gutenberg blocks
- Fix bugs
- Optimize performance
Companies now expect even entry-level hires to:
- Know modern workflows
- Build their own web apps
- Have a strong GitHub portfolio
- Show real WordPress projects
- Work with minimal supervision
The old “learn on the job” model is gone.
Outsourcing: The Final Hit to Junior WordPress Development Jobs
Outsourcing changed the economics entirely.
Why hire a junior developer at $30+ per hour in Canada when you can hire:
- A senior WordPress developer overseas
- For the same price or lower
- With years of experience
- And faster delivery
Companies realized they could skip junior talent altogether — especially for WordPress projects — and go directly to overseas senior developers.
The result?
The junior developer pathway collapsed.
The Harsh Truth: Today’s Tech Grads Are Shut Out
Ask any recent grad or bootcamp student:
They’re applying to hundreds (sometimes thousands) of jobs… and receiving zero replies.
Not because they’re unqualified.
But because the industry no longer has room for beginners.
Two Paths Forward: One for Aspiring Developers, One for Business Owners
1. If You’re an Aspiring Developer or WordPress Developer
You must create your own opportunities.
- Build real projects
- Contribute to open source
- Launch your own WordPress site or plugin
- Showcase custom themes and PHP work
- Build a portfolio of client-ready projects
- Network with business owners
Experience today doesn’t come from employment — it comes from building.
Your GitHub and your WordPress portfolio are your resume now.
2. If You’re a Business Owner
Hiring a junior developer can still be a smart investment if you plan for it.
Juniors can help with:
- Automation
- Internal tools
- Website maintenance
- WordPress updates & security
- IT support
- Content or layout changes
And if you train them, they often become:
- Loyal
- Skilled
- Long-term assets to your company
Today’s junior, with proper mentorship, becomes tomorrow’s tech lead.
Final Thoughts: The Junior Developer Didn’t Fail — We Failed Them
We used to give 21-year-olds a chance.
We used to give new WordPress developers a chance.
Today:
- No experience = no access
- No access = no future
But it doesn’t have to stay this way.
Businesses can rebuild pathways.
Developers can build portfolios.
The industry can evolve — if we want it to.
Watch the Full Vlog on YouTube
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Here’s the full video version of this topic: Watch “The Rise and Fall of the Junior Developer” on YouTube