The great displacement is already well underway? (shawnfromportland.substack.com)

Article summary

The author, a software engineer, shares their personal experience of losing their job to AI and struggling to find new employment despite having 21 years of relevant experience. They describe the challenges of competing with AI-powered candidate finder services, ageism, and the requirement for onsite work. The author has had to resort to alternative means of making money, such as Doordashing and renting out properties on Airbnb. They express frustration with the lack of support from the unemployment system and the difficulty of adapting to a rapidly changing job market.

Main themes

• AI displacement
• job market challenges
• remote work
• labor arbitrage
• technological change
• ageism and bias
• unemployment support

What commenters say

• The author's situation is a result of their own choices, such as moving to a rural area and refusing to work onsite.
• The requirement for onsite work is unnecessary and forces people into difficult situations.
• The rise of AI and remote work has created a labor market where American workers are at a disadvantage due to global labor arbitrage.
• The author's experience is a warning sign of the need for a solution to help workers displaced by AI and automation.
• The author's background in PHP is outdated and a contributing factor to their hiring problems.
• The perception of PHP as an outdated language is unfair, and it has evolved significantly in recent years.
• The shift to remote work has both positive and negative effects, including increased flexibility and potential loneliness.
• The industry's move to return-to-office policies is a major obstacle for workers who prefer or require remote work.