"The job search has been brutal. Even though I get a lot of interviews and I make it to final rounds very often, I’ve just not been in the position to receive an offer," Istanbouli, 33, a former Google account manager, said in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times.

He is among a growing number of experienced technology workers in California struggling to recover from a wave of layoffs that has reshaped the industry over the past two years.

Julia, an executive at a well-known technology company, moved to San Francisco more than a decade ago because of the opportunities offered by the industry. But when she learned in mid-April that she was among hundreds of thousands of workers affected by recent layoffs, she was stunned.

"It took me two days to get out of bed," Julia, who asked to remain partially anonymous to discuss her employer, told The Independent. "I went through this deep debrief. I didn’t think that would happen. I did not see this coming."

Employees gather during a meeting at an office. Illustration photo from Pexels

She then began applying for new jobs and created a group chat called "LinkedInferno" with other women in the industry who were also trying to rebuild their careers after losing their positions. "I just take one day at a time —sometimes it’s an hour at a time — but I can’t thinking too far out ahead because I can’t get myself into a panic," Julia said.

Technology layoffs continue to mount across the U.S., with more than 108,000 tech workers losing their jobs this year, according to tracking website Layoffs.fyi, including employees at major companies such as Cisco, LinkedIn, PayPal, Meta and Amazon. The total is already nearing last year’s figure of 124,281 layoffs. The job losses now appear to exceed the cuts seen after the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2008 global financial crisis.

In the first quarter alone, U.S. technology companies announced 85,411 job cuts, up 33% from the same period last year. Meta Platforms has shifted 7,000 employees into AI-related positions as part of a broader restructuring effort that includes cutting around 10% of its workforce, equivalent to roughly 8,000 jobs.

The Public Policy Institute of California estimated that employment in the information sector, including technology and some Hollywood-related jobs, declined 17% between mid-2022 and February this year.

Employment in the San Francisco Bay Area, home to Silicon Valley, fell 0.4% during the same period, compared with 7.5% growth during a comparable stretch before the pandemic.

At the same time, the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is transforming hiring priorities across Silicon Valley. Companies are competing aggressively for a relatively small pool of elite AI specialists while reducing headcount in other departments.

Recruiters said companies have become more selective, often requiring candidates to possess AI-related skills while handling broader responsibilities.

"You’re seeing elongated hiring cycles," Robert Lucido, a senior executive at Magnit, a California company that manages contract and freelance workers for major businesses, said. "There’s more opportunity to fill the need that they truly want."

Job seekers are now facing multiple interview rounds, while employers can take up to six months to fill a permanent role. Salaries for successful candidates have also declined, Lucido said. The prolonged uncertainty has forced many workers to rethink their futures. Some have accepted lower-paying jobs or left the technology industry entirely, while others have returned to school, launched businesses or retired.

Istanbouli said he eventually realized that simply applying for jobs online was no longer enough in such a competitive market. Networking and personal connections had become increasingly important. To improve his chances and support others facing similar struggles, he created a hiking and networking community for workers navigating career transitions.

He said the group helps members exchange job-search advice, emotional support and professional contacts. Those who secure jobs often share opportunities and referrals with others in the community. "They have their own networks that we can connect to, and eventually, hopefully all of us will find jobs," he said.

Kira Martins, who was laid off in April from her job at Snap, the parent company of messaging app Snapchat, remains optimistic despite the turmoil. She still views AI as a tool rather than a threat. "In tech, you want to be a first adopter, because if you don’t move quickly, it’s very easy to become irrelevant," she said. "Everyone’s kind of hopping on the AI train."

The 36-year-old Los Angeles resident said she plans to rest, travel to India and spend more time with friends before intensifying her job search later this year.

"Some days you’re kind of nervous because you hear so much about the job market and so on," she said. "But I think ‘I’m going to be fine.’"