U.S. Tech Layoffs Hit Two-Decade High in October

The headline is also shit. I wish there was a way to flag with context.

That's because its a shit title editorialization: The article is actually saying that there hasn't been an October in two decades with this many layoffs, not that this October had more layoffs than any other month in two decades.

Companies, especially large ones, generally don't think like that. Q1 can be an active quarter for layoffs (Q1 2023 was probably the most active layoff quarter since COVID), but generally, they happen when they happen (Q2-2025 was more active than Q1-2025).

One very real factor that actually does act as a gravitational pull for doing layoffs in Oct/Nov Q4 is insurance elections. Waiting until January can create a lot of complicated paperwork and cost more. There is also very much a sense that doing layoffs before the holidays, while giving severance pay, is more humane than waiting, because they can "spend time with family" (real words I've heard stated).

That's a bold assumption.

It used to be true, but companies seem deadset on demoralizing their workforce as much as possible.

They've raised prices as much as consumers will bear.

We're getting near the physical limits of how efficient things can get in many sectors.

If P/Es are to remain this high (and they have to for the rich to remain this rich), the profits must continue to grow far in excess of the total economy.

The only orange left to squeeze is labor costs.

Interesting suggestion - thanks for sharing.

Is the pay location dependent or has it just gone way down? That link shows three near me, but only paying a rather paltry $23/hr.

That's not much more than something like Walmart, which is likely a much less strenuous job with way less wear and tear on your vehicle(and body).

I’m terrified of what would happen if I lost my tech job. It’s not the income but more the cost of insurance for a family of four.

It makes sense to get any job if finances force you to, but... if you're not strapped for cash, would that really be the best way to spend that time? I have absolutely nothing against hard work, and if you want to keep yourself busy, go ahead. But I feel it's an ineffective way to spend forced downtime.

Honestly, if I were hit by lack of work, I would see how much runway savings I have and then try to either take some time off, to spend with family, do some low-budget traveling, learn new professional skills I wanted to learn, try to change the niche I work in and/or contribute to some open source project.

If tech folks are laid off who is renting that insanely expensive housing in the coastal cities?

Just looked and they are $23.00/hour in my area (SW Michigan)

Thank you!

The alternative is unions correct?

> This is what one-on-one relationships with our employers gets us

Its what an economic slowdown outside of AI gets us, mostly, but yes, unbridled capitalism (with, among other things, neither unionization in the industry under consideration nor strong public protection of labor rights) magnifies that (it also, to be fair, magnifies the upswing in employment on the upward side of the business cycle, but, it also magnifies the adverse consequences of unemployment on either side.)

Exactly. These employers are not your friends and it's all a political game with your role and your manager.

> This is the most awkward crisis no one admits there is,

The AI bubble being the only thing holding up aggregate economic numbers is widely acknowledged, and this is just one of many manifestations of that.

> intertwined with two wars, one genocide,

There are more than two wars and one genocide happening now, so that's a really weird insertion.

Sorry, can’t have that. But you can pick men vs women, left vs right, white vs poc, Israel vs Palestine, capitalism vs socialism, religion vs atheism, cis vs trans.

$50k jobs (in your field) are probably harder to find than $100k jobs. Nobody wants to hire a $50k dev in the US - they'd think there's something wrong with you. In the past you could maybe get something in web dev but that's not exactly a thriving industry these days.

In any case, my impression is that juniors are being hit the hardest. They're the easiest to offshore and the easiest to justify as being replaceable by AI (regardless of how true that actually is).

Without delving into all the stats, $50K/year is a pretty mediocre salary--certainly in anything resembling a medium to high cost of living area. Your rent will consume a lot of that after taxes without roommates and even a "paid-off" house will probably not be a whole lot less with taxes, insurance, utilities, etc.

Certainly a trailer home in a lot of places but then not clear how easily you'll get that $50K/yr job.

I don't know a lot of people who could stay in their current house on 50k/year.

Junior jobs are very hard to find right now. They are much rarer than they used to be. However, if you are even somewhat capable you could probably find a role if you're willing to accept $50k total comp (which is very low in most areas) just by being willing to work for less than others.

The current tech job situation in the US is hitting junior developers a lot harder than senior developers, which is why there's a general assumption a lot of it is being driven by the combination of AI and outsourcing.

Whether this is sustainable remains to be seen, there was a big outsourcing trend back in ~2004 in the tech industry here that ended up being somewhat short-lived as many companies realized those efforts were costing them more than they were saving them beyond the short term. Whether or not this time is different with the added AI component, I have no idea. I wouldn't bet on it in either direction.

Its not great out there for senior developers either, but on the senior side its more of a freeze (try not to lose your job because the next one may be very hard to find) whereas on the junior side its more of a clear contraction (keeping your job will be much harder, finding a new one harder still).

$100k a year in 2025 is like earning $55k a year in 2007, accounting for inflation and costs.

The value of money and especially the dollar is getting printed away to worthlessness.