I most fit in bucket #1. I have a non-STEM degree and (aside from a few CS classes) have been self taught, and primarily working with early stage startups and s

I most fit in bucket #1. I have a non-STEM degree and (aside from a few CS classes) have been self taught, and primarily working with early stage startups and small companies. I worked at a mom & pop business, 2 small web agencies, and one startup. The last three companies outsource a lot of their development work and I don't have much physical contact with other developers on the job. The situation with long term unemployed is an interesting one. Seems like some employers have a "triage" system with applicants, where they put the long term unemployed under the "unlikely to work regardless of treatment". I'm also aware that more CS grads and bootcamp grads are entering the workforce so they might find some of my skills only comparable to them and prefer them as a choice. Experience depreciates so quickly in this field, it seems. Another option is to go back to college to get a BS in CS (or maybe ECE since I have an interest in low-level stuff) and somehow manage it full-time attending in person while also being able to pay all of my bills.