geronimosan's journey

I recently experienced a layoff from my role in tech, where I was earning around $250K in total compensation. I've been reflecting on the advice out there suggesting that people should "learn a trade" as a solution for those of us displaced by layoffs. It feels disingenuous, especially since many of the companies behind this narrative, like Meta, are the same ones conducting mass layoffs. They’re pushing initiatives like America’s Workforce Academy, which offers a five-week course with a credential and a guaranteed job, but those jobs are predominantly at construction sites for their data centers, not local opportunities. This push seems more like a supply chain management strategy than genuine career advice. The reality is that while they need labor for their construction projects, the pay and job security are far from what many expect. I’ve seen stats showing that there are hundreds of thousands of tech layoffs, and the trades are already saturated with workers. The promise of high-paying jobs in trades often overlooks the fact that most positions are just backfills for retirees, and the actual new openings are minimal. Moreover, the narrative around trades often glamorizes the top earners while ignoring the long apprenticeship periods and the reality that many tradespeople earn much less than the stories suggest. The disparity between supply and demand is stark: as tech workers like me are pushed into trades, we risk driving down wages that are already inflated due to scarcity. It’s frustrating to see the same companies that laid us off now trying to dictate our career paths, all while they profit from our displacement.