Tech Workers: Your Skills Are Valuable in These 5 Growing Industries

If you're among the more than 180,000 tech workers laid off globally in 2024-2025, you're likely questioning whether your skills still have value. The answer is an emphatic yes, but the path forward may look different than you expect. While Intel, Meta, IBM, and Oracle have collectively cut tens of thousands of positions, five industries are actively seeking the exact skills you've spent years developing.

Based on our analysis of employment data from theNumbers.io, labor market trends, and industry hiring patterns, we've identified where tech talent is not just wanted, but desperately needed. More importantly, we'll show you how to translate your current skills into these growing sectors without starting from scratch.

The Tech Exodus: Understanding What's Happening

The numbers tell a sobering story. Intel reduced its workforce by approximately 24,000 employees throughout 2025, citing the need to become "leaner and more efficient." Verizon eliminated more than 13,000 positions, its largest-ever layoff. Oracle's $1.6 billion restructuring plan is projected to eliminate approximately 10,000 workers. IBM cut approximately 5,400 positions explicitly due to "AI integration and workforce rebalancing."

The affected roles read like a who's who of tech talent: software engineers, data scientists, project managers, module development engineers, and research specialists. These aren't low-performing workers being cut, these are experienced professionals whose roles are being automated, consolidated, or eliminated as companies restructure around AI.

But here's what the layoff headlines miss: while traditional tech is contracting, adjacent industries are expanding rapidly. They need software developers, systems architects, data analysts, and product managers. They just don't call these roles by the same names.

Industry #1: Healthcare Technology (4+ Million Job Openings)

Why tech workers fit: Healthcare is undergoing its own digital transformation, projected to add 4 million jobs by 2026. The sector desperately needs technologists who can build electronic health record systems, develop telemedicine platforms, analyze patient data, and implement AI for diagnostics.

Your transferable skills:

• Software engineers: Healthcare IT specialists develop patient portals, clinical decision support systems, and integration platforms. Your API experience? Crucial for connecting disparate medical systems.
• Data scientists: Healthcare analytics is exploding. Hospitals need professionals who can build predictive models for patient outcomes, optimize resource allocation, and analyze population health data.
• Product managers: Clinical informaticists bridge the gap between medical professionals and technology. Your user research and product development skills translate directly.
• Systems administrators: Healthcare IT infrastructure engineers manage HIPAA-compliant networks, cloud migrations, and cybersecurity for sensitive patient data.

Salary comparison:

• Healthcare IT Manager: $95,000 - $135,000 (comparable to mid-level engineering roles)
• Clinical Informatics Specialist: $85,000 - $120,000
• Healthcare Data Analyst: $75,000 - $110,000
• Telemedicine Platform Developer: $100,000 - $150,000

Entry barrier: Low to moderate. Many healthcare tech roles don't require medical degrees. A few online certifications (CAHIMS for health IT, or RHIA for health information) combined with your tech background opens doors. Six-month bootcamps like Coursera's Health Informatics Professional Certificate provide the domain knowledge you're missing.

Where to start: Target electronic health record companies (Epic, Cerner/Oracle Health), telemedicine platforms (Teladoc, Amwell), health insurance tech (UnitedHealth Optum, Cigna Evernorth), and hospital systems building internal tech teams. Job postings often seek "clinical application analyst" or "healthcare systems engineer," these are software roles with medical context.

Industry #2: Financial Services & Fintech (Cybersecurity + AI-Driven Trading)

Why tech workers fit: Financial services face a perfect storm: increasing cyber threats, regulatory compliance requirements, and competition from fintech startups. Traditional banks are hiring tech talent aggressively to modernize legacy systems and compete with digital-native companies.

Your transferable skills:

• Security engineers: Financial cybersecurity specialists protect against fraud, secure transactions, and ensure compliance. Your experience with authentication, encryption, and network security translates directly.
• Backend developers: Payment systems engineers build the infrastructure processing billions in transactions. Your distributed systems and database expertise is exactly what's needed.
• Machine learning engineers: Quantitative developers build algorithmic trading systems, fraud detection models, and credit risk assessments. If you worked on ML at a tech company, finance wants you.
• Mobile developers: Banking app developers create the interfaces millions use daily. Your iOS/Android experience plus new financial domain knowledge makes you valuable.

Salary comparison:

• Fintech Software Engineer: $110,000 - $180,000 (often higher than FAANG for senior roles)
• Financial Cybersecurity Analyst: $95,000 - $150,000
• Quantitative Developer: $120,000 - $220,000+ (with bonuses)
• Payment Systems Architect: $130,000 - $200,000

Entry barrier: Moderate. Most roles require Series 7 or Series 63 licenses only if you're advising on investments. Technical roles don't. Consider obtaining CompTIA Security+ or CISSP for cybersecurity positions. For quant roles, brush up on statistics and financial mathematics through programs like QuantInsti or WorldQuant University (free).

Where to start: Beyond banks (JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America), target fintech scale-ups: Stripe, Plaid, Chime, Robinhood, Square/Block. Also consider payment processors (Visa, Mastercard, PayPal), cryptocurrency/blockchain firms, and insurance tech (Lemonade, Root Insurance). Search for "financial systems engineer" or "payments platform developer."

Industry #3: Clean Energy & Climate Technology (Fastest-Growing Sector)

Why tech workers fit: The energy transition is fundamentally a technology problem. Solar, wind, battery storage, and smart grids all require sophisticated software, data analysis, and systems engineering. The Inflation Reduction Act injected $369 billion into this sector, creating unprecedented demand for tech talent.

Your transferable skills:

• IoT engineers: Smart grid developers build systems that monitor and optimize energy distribution. Your experience with sensors, real-time data, and network protocols is directly applicable.
• Data engineers: Energy analytics specialists optimize power generation and consumption. If you built data pipelines at a tech company, you can do it for solar farms.
• Embedded systems developers: Battery management systems engineers develop the software controlling EV batteries and grid storage. Your low-level programming and hardware interaction skills are crucial.
• Full-stack developers: Energy management platform developers create dashboards for homeowners and businesses to track consumption and savings. Standard web development with renewable energy context.

Salary comparison:

• Clean Energy Software Engineer: $90,000 - $145,000
• Smart Grid Developer: $95,000 - $155,000
• Battery Systems Software Engineer: $100,000 - $160,000
• Energy Data Scientist: $105,000 - $165,000

Entry barrier: Low. Domain knowledge helps but isn't required initially. Free online courses from organizations like SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Association) or taking MIT's free MicroMasters in Energy provide background. The tech skills you have are the hard part, learning about kilowatt-hours and power distribution is the easy part.

Where to start: Target companies like Tesla (energy division), Enphase, SolarEdge, Sunrun, ChargePoint, and grid modernization firms like AutoGrid and Stem. Utilities (Duke Energy, NextEra) are also hiring tech talent. Manufacturing companies building EV batteries (LG Energy Solution, Panasonic) need embedded systems engineers. Search for "renewable energy software engineer" or "smart grid developer."

Industry #4: Education Technology (Post-Pandemic Boom Continues)

Why tech workers fit: EdTech exploded during the pandemic and continues growing. Schools, universities, and corporate training programs need platforms that work at scale. With 50 million K-12 students and 150 million corporate learners in the U.S. alone, the addressable market is massive.

Your transferable skills:

• Frontend developers: Learning platform developers build interactive educational experiences. Your React/Vue/Angular skills plus some understanding of pedagogy makes you valuable.
• Backend engineers: LMS (Learning Management System) developers create the infrastructure handling millions of concurrent users. Your scalability experience from tech directly applies.
• AI/ML engineers: Adaptive learning engineers build systems that personalize education based on student performance. If you worked on recommendation systems, this is similar.
• Product designers: Educational UX designers create interfaces for diverse learners. Your user research and design skills, combined with accessibility knowledge, are essential.

Salary comparison:

• EdTech Software Engineer: $85,000 - $140,000
• Learning Platform Developer: $90,000 - $135,000
• Educational AI Engineer: $100,000 - $160,000
• EdTech Product Manager: $95,000 - $145,000

Entry barrier: Very low. EdTech companies value tech skills over teaching credentials. Understanding learning science helps but can be learned quickly through resources like the Learning Sciences program at Coursera or EdX's courses on instructional design. Many roles involve simply building great software that happens to be used in education.

Where to start: Established EdTech companies include Canvas (Instructure), Blackboard, Coursera, Udemy, Duolingo, and Khan Academy. Corporate training platforms like Degreed, Skillsoft, and LinkedIn Learning are also hiring. School districts increasingly build internal tech teams. Search for "learning platform engineer" or "educational software developer." This sector values mission-driven workers, so highlight interest in educational access and equity.

Industry #5: Manufacturing & Industrial Automation (Reshoring Boom)

Why tech workers fit: Manufacturing is returning to the U.S. (reshoring), but not the manufacturing of your grandparents' era. Modern factories are highly automated, software-driven operations requiring industrial IoT, robotics, and AI-powered quality control. The CHIPS Act alone is creating tens of thousands of high-tech manufacturing jobs.

Your transferable skills:

• Automation engineers: Industrial control systems developers program PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) and build SCADA systems. Your programming fundamentals plus some industrial context makes you competitive.
• Computer vision engineers: Quality assurance AI developers build systems that inspect products for defects. Your ML and image processing skills directly apply to industrial settings.
• Systems integrators: MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) engineers connect machines, databases, and business systems. Your middleware and integration experience is exactly what's needed.
• DevOps engineers: Industrial IT specialists manage on-premise servers in factories, handle OT/IT convergence, and ensure uptime. Your infrastructure and reliability engineering skills translate.

Salary comparison:

• Industrial Automation Engineer: $85,000 - $130,000
• Manufacturing Software Developer: $90,000 - $140,000
• Robotics Software Engineer: $100,000 - $160,000
• Industrial IoT Specialist: $95,000 - $145,000

Entry barrier: Moderate. Understanding industrial protocols (OPC UA, Modbus) and control systems requires some learning. Certifications like Rockwell Automation's Connected Components Workbench or Siemens TIA Portal training help. Many community colleges offer short industrial automation courses. The good news: manufacturing desperately needs talent and will train workers with strong technical fundamentals.

Where to start: Semiconductor fabs being built by Intel, TSMC, and Samsung need software talent. EV manufacturers (Tesla, Rivian, Lucid) build highly automated factories. Companies like Rockwell Automation, Siemens, and ABB provide automation solutions. Contract manufacturers (Jabil, Flex) hire tech workers. Search for "manufacturing systems engineer" or "industrial software developer."

Making the Transition: Practical Steps

Understanding these opportunities is step one. Actually pivoting requires strategy:

1. Audit your skills through a new lens. Don't describe yourself as a "Senior Software Engineer at Meta." Instead: "Built scalable systems serving 100M users" (valuable in healthcare), "Developed real-time data pipelines" (valuable in energy), or "Implemented ML-powered recommendations" (valuable in EdTech). Focus on problems solved, not company names.

2. Get domain-specific credentials quickly. You don't need years of retraining. Strategic certifications bridge gaps:

• Healthcare: CAHIMS (3 months) or Health IT Specialist from Coursera (6 months)
• Finance: CompTIA Security+ (2 months) or CFA Level 1 (6 months for quant roles)
• Energy: NABCEP PV Technical Sales (3 months) or free MIT MicroMasters
• EdTech: Instructional Design Certificate from ATD (3 months) or Google IT Support Certificate (6 months)
• Manufacturing: Rockwell Automation University (free, self-paced) or Udemy's Industrial Automation courses

3. Target companies in transition. Traditional companies modernizing their tech stacks value your experience more than startups. A hospital building its first data warehouse needs someone who has done it before. A bank migrating to cloud needs your AWS expertise. A manufacturer implementing IoT needs your network programming skills. These companies pay competitive salaries and provide stability.

4. Network in adjacent communities. Tech meetups are saturated with job seekers. Instead, attend healthcare IT conferences (HIMSS), fintech events (Money 20/20), clean energy gatherings (RE+), EdTech summits (ASU+GSV), or manufacturing automation conferences (Automate). You'll be one of few experienced tech professionals in rooms full of people hiring.

5. Consider contract-to-hire arrangements. If you lack domain experience, offering to work a 3-month contract proves your ability to adapt. Many companies hesitant to hire tech workers into "non-tech" roles will try a contractor. Once you demonstrate value, conversion rates are high.

6. Leverage your severance strategically. If you received severance, use it to upskill rather than frantically applying to 100 tech companies. Three months of focused learning in a new domain, combined with your existing skills, makes you competitive in multiple industries instead of commodity tech talent competing with thousands.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters

The tech industry isn't dying, it's maturing. The explosive growth era is over. Companies that hired aggressively during the pandemic are now optimizing for efficiency. AI is automating many tasks that previously required humans. This is permanent, not cyclical.

But technology itself isn't going away. It's spreading into every sector. Healthcare, finance, energy, education, and manufacturing all need what you know how to do. They just don't call it "tech."

The workers who thrive will be those who recognize their skills are transferable, not tied to Silicon Valley companies. A software engineer is valuable anywhere software runs, which is everywhere. A data scientist is needed wherever decisions are made based on data, which is every industry. A product manager is essential wherever products are built, which is the entire economy.

The question isn't whether your skills have value. They do. The question is whether you're willing to apply them in contexts beyond traditional tech. For many laid-off tech workers, the path forward runs through industries they've never considered. These aren't "settling" options, they're growth sectors actively hiring, paying competitive salaries, and solving meaningful problems.

Your Next Move

If you were laid off from Intel, Meta, Salesforce, or any of the dozens of companies cutting tech roles, you're at a crossroads. You can compete with thousands of other experienced engineers for shrinking tech positions. Or you can pivot into industries desperate for exactly what you offer.

The workers who make this shift fastest, who get that healthcare IT certification, who learn about smart grids, who understand educational technology, who grasp industrial automation, will be employed while others are still polishing their LeetCode skills and hoping Google starts hiring again.

Your skills are valuable. You just might need to sell them to different buyers.

For more analysis on employment trends and which industries are hiring, visit theNumbers.io and track real-time layoffs and hiring trends across industries.