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Won't someone please think of the boomers?! (thelemmy.club)
submitted 2 years ago* by to c/childfree@lemmy.world
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Wall Street Journal post on Facebook titled "Americans Are Having Fewer Babies- So Fewere People Get to Be Grandparents". The subheading reads "Baby boomers are hitting prime grandparenting age. Only there's a problem: A smaller sdhare of them have grandkids than before and they're not thrilled about it". There is a link to the article at https://on.wsj.com/4gJS2GW
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[–] [S] 79 points 2 years ago (12 children)

I'm hunting for a new job for the second time in less than a year, and I'm honestly a skilled professional with over 10 years of experience, with a lot of proof that I do great work. The labor market is stupid right now, just down right stupid. Full of executives searching for short term profits rather than anyone wanting to actually run a company well. That's alone is a huge reason, on top of everything else. I don't even know if I'll have stable employment, and that means I don't know if I'll have stable health insurance - so genuinely what are any actual incentives to my generation to have kids? Literally are there any beyond just "you have a kid now"

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  • [–] 44 points 2 years ago* (9 children)

    I'm a software engineer currently trying to find employment, and it's so bad I'm wondering if I'll just have to do something else for a while.

    My last company basically fired all their US devs, and outsourced to foreign countries for cheaper.

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  • [–] 8 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    I am a computing director. My take: software dev has been over saturated for the last 12-15 years but people keep seeing dollar signs in their eyes. My advice: learn a business skill like project management. It will allow you to work in any location.

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  • [–] 10 points 2 years ago* (2 children)

    I have 7 years professional experience, and I'm even getting passed over for positions listed as requiring 1-3 years. It's wild right now.

    I'm thinking about just going back to school, while the market is complete shit.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago*

    There are always different parts of the stack to work in. I started in the backend database land. Then, moved to general application dev with a side of web. Now, I do embedded. Never stop learning ;]

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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago*

    That works too. A degree is a reset button on your career. I’d suggest either specializing in something niche to make you more desirable or doing something very different so that you have more options.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago (4 children)

    What languages/specialties, Doc?

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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    Backend and platform/devops. I've worked a lot in Python, building out APIs from the ground up. Lots of cloud and serverless stuff. That being said, is only the most recent fraction of my resume.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    I'll keep an ear out and DM you if I hear of anything. I know that my company is currently really only hiring in APAC but, that might change in a few months.

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  • [–] 32 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    It's shit, right? I'm so sorry. I hope that stability comes to you very soon.

    Reject tradition. You have no obligation to sacrifice your well-being because some old, out-of-touch fuckwads want something life-changing from you. Can't even afford groceries.

    They can foster a child if they want one around so badly. Or go sit at a park. Or volunteer at the church nursery or something, ffs.

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  • [–] [S] 25 points 2 years ago

    bingo. The SO and I have talked about it, and we decided if we regret it a bit later and it's too late, adoption is always a valid choice. After all, we're not bringing new life in so we don't have to feel guilty about that, but instead we would be giving a home to someone else who needs one. However, there are still many, many negatives as to why we don't want to or simply can't right now.

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