Silent firing emerges as companies push for automation in tech industry

A new trend called "silent firing" is emerging, where companies make jobs harder to encourage employees to leave, paving the way for automation. This follows the pandemic-era trend of "quiet quitting," where workers do the bare minimum. Big Tech has seen a significant reduction in workforce, erasing growth from 2022. Although hiring began to rise again in March, overall headcount remains below pre-2022 levels, with many former employees still unemployed. While AI adoption is increasing, the broader labor market is stagnant. Hiring is slow outside of AI and top startups, indicating a shift in job availability and employee retention strategies in the tech industry.