User Experience Design

Why is the UX Job Market Such a Mess Right Now?

A condensed breakdown as Jared M. Spool analyzes the current tumultuous state of the UX job market

Photo by Alvaro Reyes on Unsplash

The Problem:

• Tough Market: Landing a UX job is much harder now than it was pre-2022, with even experienced professionals struggling to find work.
• Over-Saturation: There are more unemployed UX professionals than open positions.

What Didn’t Cause This:

• Devaluing UX: UX is not less respected in organizations.
• AI Replacing UX: No evidence supports AI taking over UX roles.

The Real Causes (Five Key Changes):

1. Expired Tax Credits: Government tax incentives that fueled speculative tech hiring ended.
2. Increased Interest Rates: Rising interest rates led to investors pulling back, forcing companies to cut costs and lay off workers.
3. Bootcamps: An explosion of low-cost UX bootcamp programs flooded the market with inexperienced graduates, increasing competition.
4. Automated Hiring: Automated job application systems made it too easy to apply for jobs, resulting in a flood of applications (many…