I've been reflecting on how the recent layoffs and the current job market are impacting my retirement plans. As a software engineer in my late 30s, I had initially hoped to retire by 55, but the reality of the job market has forced me to reconsider. With the instability in tech and the feeling of being expendable, I’m now looking at a retirement age closer to 65. I’ve also noticed that many people in similar situations are re-evaluating their financial strategies. For instance, some are focusing more on saving and paying off debt, while others are contemplating dipping into their retirement funds to get through these tough times. Having been laid off by Microsoft in July, I had already anticipated this trend during the pandemic when I joined the company. I started preparing for the possibility of layoffs back then. Now, I’m trying to stay optimistic and adjust my plans accordingly, but it’s clear that the job market is making it challenging to feel secure about retirement.