1. Introduction
Hear mi now – yuh ever log on an see one heap a “We regret fi inform yuh…” email buss inna tech man inbox? Well, over di past 18 month, more than 170,000 U.S. tech workers lose dem work. Laid off lef, right an center, wid layoffs up 35% early 2025.
Mi nuh ago lie, dat sound far, but memba seh nuff Jamaicans live a foreign or a dream fi reach deh. So when di ground start shift inna di tech industry, it ripple dung yah too.
2. Pain Point – Why It Matter
Tech use to be di sure shot – learn coding, fly out, land six-figure pay. But between 2022 an 2024, programming role shrink 27%, average tech pay drop over 12%.
Di problem?
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More automation an AI tek over di “simple” coding job.
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Company cut back pon staff, a hire less, especially entry-level.
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Di big man dem inna tech still eat, but di young coders an fresh graduate get lock out.
Juboy seh: “When di cake smaller, di slice dem thin.”
3. Misconceptions – What People Get Wrong
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Some tink seh tech always safe – “once yuh code, yuh set.” Nah, not again.
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People feel seh only di likkle man lose work. Wrong – even senior worker get chop.
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Next myth – “freelance alone can save yuh.” Truth is, freelance competitive bad. Yuh haffi skill up fi survive.
4. Solution Framework – How Fi Navigate Dis
Step 1 – Reskill, Reskill, Reskill
Nuff displaced worker run go learn AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing. Di demand deh deh. If yuh stick wid old-school coding alone, yuh done.
Step 2 – Explore New Industry
Plenty move to finance, healthcare, consulting, logistics. Tech skill transferable. Jamaican coder can look pon local fintech startup, hospital system upgrade, or shipping software.
Step 3 – Freelancing & Entrepreneurship
Nuff man a build app, a start consultancy, or a join remote platform like Upwork. Jamaica youth can do di same – di internet global.
5. Deep Dive / Expert Insight
Industry data show seh entry-level opportunity nearly dry up. Fresh graduate cyaan find work like before, while experienced worker a get priority. Dis a build wah big gap between di “haves” an di “wannabes.”
Inna real sense, dis mean Jamaica cyaan depend pon foreign company alone. Wi need fi create local tech ecosystem weh can absorb talent. Imagine if wi government and private sector push fi more cybersecurity training hub inna Kingston, or AI research link wid UWI?
6. Case Study – Yard Example
Mi bredrin Kemar, graduate inna IT, did a plan fi move go Miami fi job wid one medium-size software firm. Dem lay him off before him even start. Instead, him pivot, tek AI bootcamp online, an now him a do cybersecurity freelance contract fi UK clients from him yard inna Portmore. Him seh him a mek more now than di Miami job woulda pay.
7. Mistakes to Avoid
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Don’t wait pon one industry. Spread yuh wings.
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Don’t ignore reskilling. Tech move fast – stay current.
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Don’t sell yuhself cheap online. Build portfolio, set proper rate.
8. Who Dis Nah Work For?
If yuh not willing fi adapt or yuh stubborn wid old skill, di market ago rough. But if yuh ready fi learn, shift, an try new ting, opportunity still deh.
9. Action Plan – Quick Start
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Sign up fi one AI or cybersecurity online course dis month.
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Build one freelance profile pon 2–3 global platform.
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Apply tech skill inna local industry weh need it – banking, transport, health.
10. Conclusion
So di big question – Where All the Tech Workers Are Going? Plenty shift into new industries, plenty a freelance, some a build business from scratch. But di lesson fi Jamaicans? Don’t wait pon U.S. fi rescue yuh. Tech job market shake up worldwide – yuh haffi create yuh own lane.
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