This can't be good...

There were definitely slightly too many tech jobs. Layoffs suck. But things aren't quite as bad as we all think

SOURCES

S/O Ph4se0n3 for the awesome edit 🙏

[helleye]

Just wanna say, this chart starts at 60 instead of at 0.
it's still a massive drop, but it's not 99% as the visuals suggest, more like 60%.
I swear it should be illegal to misrepresent data like that.

[morgane]

start the bottom of your chart at 0 challenge (impossible)

[PraiseYeezus]

I've applied to over 1000 jobs so far since I got laid off in Dec. Many interviews, many "we'll move you to the next round, stay tuned" broken promises, and uncountable ghostings. I study a lot. I tweak my resume. I write cover letters for jobs I really want that suit my skillset. I write code, study, write blog posts, mentor new devs on Discord, I try to inject SWE into my veins every single day to keep myself sharp. I try to network but nobody wants to network with someone unemployed who doesn't have big tech on their resume. I'm up at 3am practicing Leetcode again because the anxiety and self hate won't let me sleep. I don't know what direction the industry is going but I do know I'm at my limit and I don't know if I can do this field anymore. It has to get better right?

[Malix_Labs]

"AI will take my job"

It was, in fact, the fed

[dev_taco]

Job security isn’t keeping your job it’s your ability to replace it.

[madlep]

This is cyclical. Zoom out to 20 years. It’s up and down and up and down and… It sucks being a junior in these times, especially getting that first break - BUT when it picks up in a year or two, if you’ve got some experience now and stick it out, you’ll be in demand and readily hireable.

And if you’ve already got experience and skills, there are still jobs. When you get to senior level, it just means recruiters are only pestering you once a week with roles instead of once a day.

[srit]

In my opinion those layoff are just the result of the companies trying to show infinite growing of money on the chart, eventually it will be over once they realize they are trashing also good dev constantly, is it a bubble? Yes, it's a bubble made by investors

[useruser-tiog]

So many of these charts don't have the baseline at 0 but instead are exaggerating changes via having visible range at 40%..56% for instance

[RealRatchet]

Bootcamps were always just pickaxes sold during a goldrush by companies that need devs to create downwards pressure on wages. Now the market is saturated and they are reaping the rewards.

[Jenkkimie]

Hey Theo. I am a recent graduate from Finland and the job situation is just as bad here as it's in the USA. Filtering out job listings from any job listings to junior jobs, it goes from 129 pages of 30 listing in each listings of jobs to just 9 places total, so out of 3 870 job listings only 9 are for juniors or student traineer positions (~0.23%). That's in the best job listing sites some don't even have a single junior listing at all. It's not good and I know many of my friends from study struggling to find a job or graduate because of the job market situation. Some have even quit the industry and switched, even though they have passion but desperation leads to desperate measures.

[tagKnife]

I was laid off in Q1 2023 after working at the company for 6 years, i have not been able to find a job since. Most of the time I get no response, ive had a few interviewers that didnt end in a job offer, and a alot of interviews that have been a waste of my time, they will ask you to do 5 interviews, build 2 full scale apps, and at the end of it, no job.

I look on job boards and there are jobs posted months ago with thousands of applicants and its still up? Either they arent recruiting, or they have put soo many barriers in place that even if you do apply, you will be doing a full time job durring the application and most likly come out at the end without a job still.

The tech job market is screwed right now.

[Shari_Tejp]

This youtube online programming space is so full of fucking fear mongering, and toxicity. The best decision one can do is just to quit this space all together. Enjoy your job, enjoy programming if you like it, or if you’re like me just do it because it pays good and it’s a decent job to have. enjoy your life, go outside and just fucking do something wholesome with your life. Im honestly sick of watching same titles and videos for the last 3 years, and it’s getting worse…

[no-nukez]

Man, that "get more money, it's time" comment... Oof

I just love the idea that you suggest people start negotiating during a time when job security is a major concern across the industry. It's a great way to put a target on your back when the company starts their next "restructuring" cycle.

Not to mention that there's such a wide variability that looking at a median value across the country tells you very little. You could make less than the median and still end up with higher disposable income than someone in SF, after factoring in taxes, housing prices, and cost of living. Wage isn't everything.

Lastly, I just love that you looked at a median value and and called it an average.

Like I know these are live and unrehearsed, but sometimes I'm left scratching my head at some of the stuff you say.

[krykry]

"Programmer-man, code an AI for me, so that it can code for me and replace you - permanently" - Big Tech Person.

[SuGoldeneagle]

Hell will freeze when Theo stops using clickbait titles and thumbnails.

[turboballer]

It's been rough. I personally have been on the job hunt for a few years now with no luck. I learn the best when I code something and then have someone smarter than me give me thoughtful advice, but that's difficult when you're on your own. I still have a lot to learn, but I just absolutely love making websites and any kind of software and I love all aspects of it, even the ugly. I'll keep my head high and keep going until I find something, and I hope anyone else who is struggling to get a job does the same. We can do this!

[Gosu]

Sitting on the ground and seeing how understaffed companies are and the consequences of that I doubt this will stay that way. This seems like a weird social experiment to see how much IT sector can be squized and I'm not taking any part in it. I used to enjoy my work and even do free overtime, never again — we kinda did it to ourselves.

[chaostrottel_hdaufdutube]

i dont if there are some national differences but im a german student who just got out of school and especially lokal companies have offered me internships job possibilities without ever having seen my code or anything...

[klf]

I've been working in tech for 20 years. IMO, before tech became trendy, I think there was more consistency in software developers that were decent and had interest in the field.

There are so many people drawn to tech by the pay now that range in quality of developer is dramatic. I think there are a lot of people who are in tech now that probably shouldn't be in the career.

Tech isn't a career where you can learn a skill for 2 to 4 years and rely on those skills for a 30 year career. You have to be continually learning. If the market gets tighter I think you'll see some of these folks who don't have a genuine interest in tech get pushed into other things.

[markusmachel]

In the next 1-2 years investors will realize that the AI rush doesnt make any money, they will need to reinvest in companies that have real products.