As an IT worker in the US I have never had any trouble staying employed. I was working contract in telecom at the time the dotcom and telecom collapse occurred. I became unemployed just before Thanksgiving holiday (late November) and had a new job lined up to begin in January right after the Christmas holiday. That was the longest of several periods of unemployment If you don't keep your skills up and diversified you can only blame yourself for your inability to stay employed and well paid. I am able to consistently command 6 figure annual incomes.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
