We are all familiar with the layoffs in the tech sector. Will the people who have been laid off eventually have to find other avenues for employment in sectors of the economy where hiring is still strong?
Ask HN: Is “learn to code” now “learn to drive a big rig”?
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Re: Ask HN: Is “learn to code” now “learn to drive a big rig”?
#2If anything I think those being laid off right now will be sought after in areas that want tech sector quality but have not been able pay tech sector wages. Government jobs, education, nonprofits, all have lots of openings right now.
Re: Ask HN: Is “learn to code” now “learn to drive a big rig”?
#3If you're a coder you get to sleep in your own bed.
Re: Ask HN: Is “learn to code” now “learn to drive a big rig”?
#4If anything I think those being laid off right now will be sought after in areas that want tech sector quality but have not been able pay tech sector wages. Government jobs, education, nonprofits, all have lots of openings right now.
There's also a very long tail of businesses that are not "big tech", but still have significant IT departments and pay well for "boring" work.
Re: Ask HN: Is “learn to code” now “learn to drive a big rig”?
#5If anything I think those being laid off right now will be sought after in areas that want tech sector quality but have not been able pay tech sector wages. Government jobs, education, nonprofits, all have lots of openings right now.
I have trouble buying this, having seen the salaries being offered by local government agencies looking for devs. I guess if the layoffs depress wages across the board some of it might start to look a _little_ more reasonable, but even in a market that's nowhere near the insanity of big tech salaries, the government salaries on offer are laughably low.
Re: Ask HN: Is “learn to code” now “learn to drive a big rig”?
#6If anything I think those being laid off right now will be sought after in areas that want tech sector quality but have not been able pay tech sector wages. Government jobs, education, nonprofits, all have lots of openings right now.
I have a friend who is basically an extremely "toxic capitalist" (to put it simply).
He "called" that it wouldn't last that a lot of people were making "big" tech money + not really working 8 hours a day.
Maybe that's what this whole "big tech layoff" is. A reset to lower overheated wages. Make 500,000 unemployed programmers compete for paycuts.
Re: Ask HN: Is “learn to code” now “learn to drive a big rig”?
#7Are these two points basically true?
> As time goes on, businesses are continuing to rely on more software, not less software.
> AI tools are very fascinating, but are nowhere near ready to replace most programmers for most tasks.
If those points are true enough, developers as a group aren't going away, though some individuals might choose a different path.
Re: Ask HN: Is “learn to code” now “learn to drive a big rig”?
#8I’d rather learn a trade like plumbing or electrical systems. Hell, the richest guy I’ve ever met ran a high-end masonry business.
Re: Ask HN: Is “learn to code” now “learn to drive a big rig”?
#9If anything I think those being laid off right now will be sought after in areas that want tech sector quality but have not been able pay tech sector wages. Government jobs, education, nonprofits, all have lots of openings right now.
I have trouble buying this, having seen the salaries being offered by local government agencies looking for devs. I guess if the layoffs depress wages across the board some of it might start to look a _little_ more reasonable, but even in a market that's nowhere near the insanity of big tech salaries, the government salaries on offer are laughably low.
I know people that work in tech at decent companies that can't buy a house.
Every non major metro area mechanic, school teacher, city employee I know has a nice home.
People should really consider doing lower paying boring work in places your mortgage can be $2000 a month.
Re: Ask HN: Is “learn to code” now “learn to drive a big rig”?
#10If anything I think those being laid off right now will be sought after in areas that want tech sector quality but have not been able pay tech sector wages. Government jobs, education, nonprofits, all have lots of openings right now.
There's also a very long tail of businesses that are not "big tech", but still have significant IT departments and pay well for "boring" work.
That's my impression as well. I don't understand the perspective of "is software engineering over because I can't make a quarter million base salary anymore?". I've always preferred smaller companies and never wanted to work at a large tech company - don't foresee much change in my future unless I willingly change industries for personal reasons