Where Have All the Laid Off Tech Workers Gone?
Samson Amore is a reporter for dot.LA. He holds a degree in journalism from Emerson College. Send tips or pitches to samsonamore@dot.la and find him on Twitter @Samsonamore.
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A mass wave of layoffs has pummeled the technology industry recently, with nearly all the major companies including Alphabet, Amazon, IBM, Meta and Microsoft cutting positions on the heels of one of Big Tech’s most profitable years.
In fact, four of those five companies mentioned above made more money than the top five Big Oil companies combined last year, a staggering $255.7 billion. But still, they continue to cut staff – and those tech workers who are laid off or fired are finding that other industries outside of technology are eager to recruit them. Tech workers are highly skilled laborers, and plenty of non-tech companies need those people, and not just to fix the boss’ computer when he downloads a phishing email again…they’re looking for folks with expertise in Web3, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity or cloud computing.
That said, many of these people will likely be forced to accept less pay and fewer perks. Most companies can’t match the benefits offered by big tech, simply because they don’t earn as much money. But, in these uncertain economic times and with inflation forcing families nationwide to tighten their budgets, forfeiting some perks for a steady job in a non-tech field might be a secure bet.
But where are these laid-off workers going next? Here’s a look at where the tech exodus is taking them, and how well they’re likely to fare in today’s difficult job market.
- Farm workers and agriculture: Across the American Midwest, there’s a swath of companies that make agricultural technology – like tractors, mining trucks and smart farming tech – that really want seasoned tech workers to help automate equipment manufacturing and build software for vehicles. Some of them are opening new outposts in tech-centric cities like Austin or Chicago in a bid to attract more applicants. “We’re getting a much larger pool of potential candidates,” Scott Wine, CEO of machinery maker CNH Industrial, told Reuters last week. Other agricultural companies hiring include John Deere and its main rival, Caterpillar.
- The National Security Agency: The government is all too eager to snap up laid off and highly-skilled laborers who have a background in working in cybersecurity, and many agencies are hiring. If people can get clearance and are willing to work in-person in Maryland or Texas, the NSA would like to see their resume. “We absolutely are trying to take advantage of these tech layoffs,” NSA deputy director of workforce support activities Molly Moore told NextGov last week. The agency is hiring for a number of roles, from cybersecurity to intelligence analysis and legal support, and Moore added the NSA is trying to reach more people by increasing its presence on social media and at job fairs. Rob Joyce, the NSA’s cybersecurity director, said on Twitter in January that a job at the NSA is “an amazing stable opportunity if that is now a priority.”
- Aerospace and defense: Companies that are government contractors for aerospace and defense projects are also quickly looking to hire laid off tech workers. Raytheon’s CEO Greg Hayes told the Wall Street Journal in late December that he’s hoping the glut of unemployed people will make it finally easier for the company to hire skilled workers looking to work in a tech-adjacent job. Mike Dippold, chief financial officer at Virginia-based defense contractor Leonardo DRS, told the Journal the same. Northrop Grumman continues to hire for a myriad of positions related to tech, as does Boeing and SpaceX, both in Hawthorne and its outposts in Texas and Florida.
- The Department of Veterans’ Affairs: The VA’s chief technology officer Charles Worthington told Wired late last year that the government agency is looking to scoop up tech workers who’ve recently been given the corporate axe. Worthington said there are “great opportunities” at the VA, and noted the agency is looking to fill around 1,000 roles, particularly people who can help the VA revitalize its aging systems for medical appointment scheduling and benefits.
- Nonprofits: While the pay scale at a nonprofit likely won’t be close to what a tech worker might be used to at a FAANG company, the possibility of using their skills to spur social change could make up for it. As a recent Fast Company piece noted, there’s a lot of nonprofits hiring right now, and they come with one perk increasingly vanishing in tech – the ability to work remotely. Nonprofits across the board are looking for technologists to join their cause, including Patagonia’s charity, Consumer Reports and Code for America, among many others. – Samson Amore
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Samson Amore is a reporter for dot.LA. He holds a degree in journalism from Emerson College. Send tips or pitches to samsonamore@dot.la and find him on Twitter @Samsonamore.
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