Tech Layoffs Surge Past 100,000

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/12/tech-layoffs-surge-past-100000/

by dell9000 • 18 years ago

16 9 18 years ago

mdasen• 18 years ago

As bad as this is, I guess we've been luckier than many sectors. Here's to hoping we are able to pull ourselves out and create a stronger and more resilient economy for all.

dilanj• 18 years ago

Does anybody know the percentage of coders in these numbers? I doubt the job security/demand for a good programmer has changed at all.

fallentimes2• 18 years ago

I bet it has. No one is immune in a recession; quality, talented people get laid off of the time.

axod• 18 years ago

I'm betting there are some industries that are doing bumper business, and usually see a peak in a recession.

For some industries/products, the recession is great news I'm sure.

patio11• 18 years ago

You could always work as a company employee (seishain) at a major Japanese company. They essentially can't fire you. You essentially can't quit.

In times of economic uncertainty, this sort of arrangement holds a lot of appeal to people. Believe me though, oh boy, there are downsides to the expectation that worker and company are joined at the hip forever.

A common opinion among my friends: "No matter how bad it is, above all, don't quit. If you quit, you'll never work for a decent company again. You'll be hakken shain (temp) for the rest of your life, condemned to perpetually poor conditions and ceaseless economic uncertainty. It would be like being American, except with worse pay. looks around Sorry, Patrick. When I said like an American, I didn't mean like you. But you're not American, anyhow, so its OK."

retyred2• 18 years ago

absolutely. i was a programmer at yahoo for almost thirteen years and was laid off. i'm not worried about finding work again, but since i have a nestegg i think i will sit things out for a year or so since job reqs will likely be featuring lower salaries. this makes sense, if i was a hiring employer in a valley of perpetually overextended, consumption obsessed workers, i wouldn't offer top dollar either. people will be taking what they can get to pay their bills.

maien• 18 years ago

100,000 is just a number in "tech" firms, which is a board category. 100,000 is a lot, but not really a lot compare to the current situation of the economy. You should look at how many of those layoffs are strategic, and many of them are just "cutting fats". I assume many company are using the time to cut their fats.

retyred2• 18 years ago

yup, and also for companies whose stock prices are depressed (all of them), this is one of the only meaningful things they can do for investors in a recession. and frankly they can rehire people later for lower wages...i see a huge wave of salary resets going through the valley. developer wages were out of control, at one point last year i wouldn't even look at anything under $150k. now i have a lot of experience, but even i found these salaries absurd for developers. thats going to change.

Tech Layoffs Surge Past 100,000

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