Shrinking Entry-Level Roles: Many "bread and butter" junior tasks, like basic wireframing and component generation, are being automated. This has led to an oversaturated market with fewer traditional "junior" openings.
Higher Hiring Bar: Recruiters now expect juniors to be "strategic orchestrators". You aren't just expected to know Figma; you must now demonstrate AI literacy, strategic thinking, and business acumen immediately.
Portfolio Skepticism: Hiring managers are increasingly wary of "cookie-cutter" portfolios. There is a concern that projects might be mostly AI-generated, making it harder for juniors to prove their actual design thinking.
Loss of Apprenticeship: The traditional path of learning by doing simple tasks under a senior designer's wing is disappearing because AI is taking over those simple tasks, potentially leading to a lack of mentorship.