Tech workers are increasingly dissatisfied due to mass layoffs, job insecurity from automation, and weakened workplace connections, leading to declining trust and engagement. This dissatisfaction is compounded by leadership disconnect, opaque career advancement, and widespread burnout, causing many employees to consider leaving the industry.
Tech workers are experiencing unprecedented dissatisfaction with their jobs despite generally high salaries and expertise. A recent survey revealed that nearly 71% of tech employees feel less connected to their companies, and 58% are not proud of their company’s direction. This widespread disengagement is fueled by mass layoffs, job insecurity, and the rise of automation, which have eroded trust and loyalty. Even newly hired workers express doubts about job stability, with 47% fearing they won’t keep their positions long term.
The wave of mass layoffs starting in 2022 has been a major factor in this dissatisfaction. Large, profitable companies like Google, Amazon, Salesforce, and Microsoft have cut thousands of jobs, often without clear explanations or personal communication. These abrupt and impersonal layoffs have created a climate of distrust, with 61% of laid-off tech workers no longer trusting big tech firms as stable employers. The unpredictability and perceived arbitrariness of these cuts have deeply weakened employee loyalty.
Job insecurity is further exacerbated by technological changes such as automation, generative AI, and outsourcing, which threaten many entry-level tech roles. Reports estimate that 30 to 45% of these positions could disappear, causing anxiety among younger workers who have invested heavily in their training. Additionally, the shift to remote and hybrid work, while initially welcomed, has led to social isolation and weakened team bonds. Many employees hired since 2022 have never met their colleagues in person, making trust and communication more difficult.
The cultural shift in tech workplaces has resulted in a loss of community and declining employee engagement, which dropped from 38% in 2019 to 27% in 2024. Workers report feeling emotionally disconnected, with 24% actively disengaged or frustrated. Leadership disconnect is another issue, as strategic decisions are often communicated without dialogue, undermining trust and creating fear about job security. Opaque promotion and evaluation processes, favoritism, and a lack of recognition further fuel dissatisfaction.
Burnout is rampant in the tech sector, with 63% of workers reporting high levels of exhaustion due to long hours, constant pressure, and difficulty disconnecting from work. Many employees are considering quitting or changing professions, especially younger developers. Although companies have introduced mental health benefits, these are often seen as superficial without meaningful changes to workload and expectations. Overall, tech worker dissatisfaction reflects a deep transformation in the industry’s culture, marked by distrust, uncertainty, and declining morale.