KQED's Forum The 'Great Flattening': White Collar Workers Hit by Historic Wave of Layoffs
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Nov 20, 2025 Join Noam Scheiber, a reporter from The New York Times, Aki Ito, a tech industry correspondent at Business Insider, and Alicia Gill, an executive coach, as they dive into the rising wave of white-collar layoffs. They discuss the paradox of layoffs in a seemingly strong economy, the impact of AI on job security, and the emotional toll on professionals facing job loss. Listeners share their struggles in navigating the job market, while the guests offer strategic advice for building resilience and finding opportunity amidst uncertainty.
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White-Collar Slowdown Predates ChatGPT
- Long-term decline in demand for many white-collar roles predates generative AI by over a decade.
- Noam Scheiber notes AI may accelerate change but deeper structural shifts began well before chatbots.
Facilities Manager Shares Recent Layoff
- John called in after being laid off from JLL and described daily applying to over 100 jobs while grieving the loss.
- He noticed managers urged AI use but doubts AI can realistically replace facilities roles yet.
Take A Bridge Job And Reframe Skills
- Do expand your job search beyond the exact role you had by pursuing bridge or "just for now" jobs to stabilize income.
- Alicia Gill advises reframe your skills and focus networking rather than mass-applying thoughtlessly.
