Technology changes quickly, so it is understandable to wonder whether some tech jobs could disappear completely. In reality, most roles do not vanish overnight. They usually shrink, evolve, or transfer their routine tasks to automation while new responsibilities and specialisms emerge around them.

Which tech roles are under the most pressure?

Roles built heavily around repetitive, predictable tasks face some of the clearest pressure from automation.

Traditional computer programming is one example. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for computer programmers to decline by 7% between 2025 and 2035, partly because companies can automate more repetitive programming work and shift higher-level responsibilities towards software developers.

This does not mean coding is disappearing. In fact, software development is moving in the opposite direction. Employment for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to grow by 10% over the same period as organisations continue building software for AI, robotics, connected products, and other technologies.

The distinction matters. Employers may need fewer people whose role is mainly writing straightforward code from specifications, while continuing to need professionals who can design systems, solve complex problems, review AI-generated code, and understand how software supports a wider product.

Basic IT support is becoming more automated

Some entry-level support work is also changing.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects overall computer support specialist employment to decline by around 3% from 2025 to 2035. Automated troubleshooting systems and chatbots are expected to handle more common user problems, reducing the number of people required for basic support tasks.

Again, that does not mean IT support is disappearing completely. Organisations will still encounter problems that automated tools cannot solve.

The role is more likely to shift towards complex troubleshooting, infrastructure, security, cloud platforms, device management, and higher-value user support. Professionals who develop those additional skills may find themselves moving into broader tech jobs rather than remaining focused only on simple first-line requests.

For someone currently working in support, that means progression matters. Learning networking, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, scripting, or systems administration can help you move towards work that requires more judgement and technical depth.

Automation is changing jobs more often than eliminating them

Artificial intelligence has created understandable concern about which careers will survive, but current labour-market forecasts show a more complicated picture.

The World Economic Forum expects AI, automation, and wider digital adoption to both create and displace jobs through 2030. At the same time, technology roles such as AI and machine learning specialists, big data specialists, information security analysts, and software developers appear among the fastest-growing occupations in its global employer survey.

This means some tech jobs may become smaller categories while others expand around new technology.

Software testing provides a useful example. Automated testing tools can perform repetitive checks, but the broader occupation of software quality assurance analysts and testers is still projected to grow. Employers continue to need people who can design testing strategies, investigate unusual behaviour, understand user requirements, and decide whether software actually works as intended.

The same principle applies across technology. Tasks are often easier to automate than complete jobs.

How can you protect your technology career?

The safest strategy is not to search for a supposedly permanent job title. Instead, focus on skills that become more valuable as technology changes.

Look at which parts of your work are repetitive and which require judgement, technical depth, creativity, communication, or understanding of complicated systems. The more your value depends on the second group, the harder it becomes to replace your contribution with a simple automated process.

Keep learning as well. AI and big data, cybersecurity, and wider technological literacy are among the areas employers expect to grow in importance over the coming years.

That does not mean abandoning your existing specialism every time a new technology appears. Build on what you already know and understand how emerging tools affect your role.

Professionals should also keep an eye on available tech jobs, even when they are not actively searching. Job descriptions can reveal which skills employers are adding, which responsibilities are changing, and where your experience may need strengthening.

At Tech Recruit, we work across specialist technology markets and speak with candidates about how their experience fits changing employer requirements. Understanding those shifts early can make career planning much more deliberate.

Conclusion

So, what tech jobs are disappearing forever? Very few can confidently be described that way. Traditional programming and basic user-support positions face declining employment projections, while automation is reducing the need for some repetitive technical tasks. At the same time, software development, cybersecurity, AI, data, and other specialist technology careers continue to grow.

The more useful question is whether your current skills are evolving with your role. Keep developing technical depth, learn how automation affects your work, and stay aware of where employers are investing.

Explore Tech Recruit’s latest technology opportunities or speak with our specialist recruitment team about your experience and career direction. Staying ahead of changing skill requirements can help you build a career around where technology is going rather than where it has been.