In AI era, IT workers are earning half of what they used to

The IT industry seemed to have lost its appeal. I recently met a women whose husband had graduated with an IT degree from a top university and once earned VND40-50 million (US$1,545-1,930) a month.

After problems at his former company, he spent several months out of work before finding another job. Despite having five years of experience, he now earns just VND20 million a month.

Once enjoying an income that many people envied, the Hanoi family now has to watch its spending much more carefully.

I don't know all the reasons behind the husband's pay cut, but his story illustrates a reality of the job market: Having a degree and years of experience doesn't guarantee that someone will always command the same high salary. When jobs change, companies restructure or hiring requirements shift, a worker's income can fall considerably.

The husband still makes more than many people working in other industries.

Another friend of mine who works in IT has also started exploring other ways to earn money through MMO (Make Money Online). Rather than relying entirely on his salary, he is trying to use his existing knowledge and skills to build additional sources of income.

I don't think making money online is easy, or that everyone who tries it will succeed. But his decision to look for alternatives suggests that workers are having to think more seriously about adapting to change instead of depending on a single, stable job.

Stories like these have also made me notice that university students seem more hesitant about choosing information technology as their major.

Over the past few years, layoffs at some technology companies and growing competition for jobs have made IT less attractive than it once was. In the past, many students chose the field believing that good grades would lead to a well-paid job after graduation. Today, that expectation is much harder to fulfil.

The rise of artificial intelligence is also changing how the industry operates. Many AI tools can now help write code, detect bugs, produce documentation and handle tasks that previously took programmers considerable time.

These tools improve productivity, but they also place new demands on IT professionals. Knowing how to code is no longer enough. Workers must understand problems, design solutions, verify results and take responsibility for the products they develop.

Simple, repetitive tasks may come under greater pressure, while those with strong technical expertise and problem-solving skills will still have opportunities to advance.

Yet it would be premature to conclude from these changes that IT is past its prime. An industry may no longer offer the same easy path to high earnings that it once did, but that does not mean demand for technology has disappeared.

Businesses still need software, data systems, cybersecurity and digital solutions. What has changed is what employers expect from candidates, how fiercely applicants must compete and how widely salaries can vary depending on individual abilities.

When an industry is booming, attractive salaries naturally draw large numbers of students. But those who choose a major simply because they've heard it pays well, without considering whether the work suits them, building a solid foundation of knowledge or being prepared to keep learning, can find themselves disappointed when the job market turns.