It's Been a Minute Did the Cult of the Tech Job trick you too?
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Feb 11, 2026 Raya Jetta, tech culture reporter for the San Francisco Standard, explores Silicon Valley hiring shifts and the fallout from mass layoffs. She talks about how “learn to code” became a cultural promise and how that narrative shaped schools. The conversation also covers AI fluency demands and what happens when tech work no longer guarantees security.
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The 'Learn To Code' Promise Remade Careers
- The tech industry sold a 'magic beans' narrative that coding guaranteed wealth and prestige.
- That promise shaped education and careers despite not applying equally to all students.
Host's Layoff And The 'Learn To Code' Refrain
- Brittany Luse recounts being laid off multiple times and hearing 'learn to code' as the common refrain.
- That advice felt like a cultural assumption that tech was the safe route out of employment insecurity.
Overhiring, Economics, And AI Collided
- Massive hiring in the 2010s and pandemic overhiring created a tech workforce glut.
- Higher interest rates, economic pressure, and AI-driven priorities then triggered widespread layoffs.