Tech Layoffs For 2016 Projected To Be Deep: What Happens To 260,000 Highly Skilled Professionals In Their 40s And 50s?

Tech Layoffs For 2016 Projected To Be Deep: What Happens To 260,000 Highly Skilled Professionals In Their 40s And 50s?

Following the news on Intel’s layoffs, I read some depressing projections for the rest of the technology industry. Dawn Kawamoto reports in Information Week that 260,000 tech workers will lose their jobs in 2016.

Below are the numbers Dawn has gathered from one Wall Street Analyst’s predictions:

VMware
Estimated percentage of jobs to be cut this year: 10% to 15%
Estimated number of cut employees: 1,700 to 2,500

Symantec
Estimated percentage of jobs to be cut this year: 15%
Estimated number of cut employees: 2,800

Yahoo
Estimated percentage of jobs to be cut this year: 30%
Estimated number of cut employees: 3,500

EMC
Estimated percentage of jobs to be cut this year: 15% to 20%
Estimated number of cut employees: 10,000 to 14,000

Cisco Systems
Estimated percentage of jobs to be cut this year: 20%
Estimated number of cut employees: 14,000

HP Inc.
Estimated percentage of jobs to be cut this year: 30%
Estimated number of cut employees: 14,000

Microsoft
Estimated percentage of jobs to be cut this year: 15%
Estimated number of cut employees: 18,000

Oracle
Estimated percentage of jobs to be cut this year: 20%
Estimated number of cut employees: 26,000

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
Estimated percentage of jobs to be cut this year: 30%
Estimated number of cut employees: 72,000

IBM
Estimated Percentage Of Jobs To Be Cut This Year: 25%
Estimated Number of Cut Employees: 95,000

As I said earlier, cuts tend to skew heavily towards older workers.

So the question that looms over these layoffs is what is going to happen to these highly skilled, intellectually capable professionals?

A percentage of them will likely find employment in other technology companies. But the numbers are really high, and the industry is probably not going to be able to absorb the entire set.

Instead of feeling depressed about the whole thing, I would like to look at the positive side of this phenomenon.

These are tech savvy people, many have worked for years and developed experience and savings, and can, at least a percentage of them can, start new ventures. They don’t all have to build billion dollar companies. But they can focus on a $5M, $10M, $20M idea and build a $1M, $2M, $5M, $10M company over the next phase of their career.

Let us say, 1% of the 260,000 people above has the internal drive to build a new business, that would mean 2,600 new ventures. Let’s say, each new business employs an average of 10 people. That would be employment for 26,000 people.

If a higher percentage starts companies, there would be a proportionately higher employment generation as well.

Of course, not all businesses would survive. But, with proper mentoring, Infant Entrepreneur Mortality statistics can be controlled. We at 1M/1M will definitely do our part to help first-time entrepreneurs navigate this traumatic transition. If you like, please come to our free online roundtables and simmer in a supportive environment and community of fellow entrepreneurs. You can learn. You can network and develop connections. If you want to get ahead while you still have your paycheck or severance payment, read Bootstrapping With a Paycheck. And if you really have decided to move into entrepreneurship gear, study this curriculum and learn the methodology of how to succeed.

Whatever you do, do not get discouraged. Today’s Internet is chock full of learning materials. Yes, you will have to rapidly upgrade your skills on multiple dimensions. However, there are numerous tools to do so. Whether it is learning a new programming language, acquiring entrepreneurship methodology knowledge, or learning how to become a data scientist, the options are plentiful, and the learning mechanisms are also plentiful. 

I want to end with a wonderful case study of an entrepreneur whose story I covered back in 2009 as the subprime crisis created havoc with our economy. Michelle Munson lost her job, but instead of getting despondent, she founded Aspera, which she eventually sold to IBM. You can read her story From Laid-off Engineer to Successful Startup CEO: Michelle Munson, CEO of Aspera. I have always loved Michelle’s story, and look forward to covering many other such inspiring stories that will rise on the ashes of adversity.

Looking For Some Hands-On Advice?

For entrepreneurs who want to discuss their specific businesses with me, I’m very happy to assess your situation during my free online 1M/1M Roundtables, held almost every Thursday. If you are interested in entrepreneurship topics and my writings, you can follow me here.

Usha Jayaraman

I volunteer full time supporting education of under-privileged children and destitute elderly women in my community

8 年

Excellent.

回复
Amit Agarwal

Data Science Leader @ Lowe's

8 年

Good use this opportunity to throw out immigrants and replace them with native engineers

Julian Grodzicky

Electronics Engineer's Associate

8 年

Doesn't bode well for all the various STEM initiatives. What's the point for a school-leaver of going into a STEM occupation if your career is only for 15-20 years? Might as well become a lawyer, politician, real-estate salesman, or banker. They really produce a lot of innovation, don't they?

Andrew Neeley

Information Technology Manager at New York Institute of Technology

8 年

This always seems inevitable, especially with the big name companies targeting their older employee pool. It seems personification of the American worker sticking with one company forever is over and dead. Working for several organizations over a lifetime and creating a large pool of professional contacts helps for a quick recovery.

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