Americans Reinvent Careers After 2025 Layoffs as AI and Weak Hiring Upend White-Collar Work
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Aug 9
Americans Reinvent Careers After 2025 Layoffs as AI and Weak Hiring Upend White-Collar Work
3 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Aug 9
Summary
Laid-off Americans are increasingly piecing together new careers through seasonal work, gig jobs, retraining and small businesses rather than moving into comparable full-time roles.
AI adoption, a sluggish labor market with low hiring and firing, and continuing layoffs—especially in tech—are pushing workers to adapt out of necessity rather than opportunity.
Douglas Craig shifted after a June 2025 layoff from media into ski instruction, science camp work and an aerial adventure park job in Colorado, accepting lower pay for work he says brings more joy.
Others are making similar pivots: Jon McCarty moved from software engineering to Home Depot and handyman work, while Kevin Hannegan stitched together DoorDash, arena crew and repair jobs after a 2024 publishing layoff.
Some workers are betting on new skills or independence—29-year-old Tanvi Pisal spends up to 15 hours a week learning AI, while Bonnie Chiurazzi launched a market research firm after failing to land another corporate role.