Under usual circumstances a laid off tech worker might be able to line up multiple offers elsewhere. But with companies contracting everywhere, suddenly there's

Under usual circumstances a laid off tech worker might be able to line up multiple offers elsewhere. But with companies contracting everywhere, suddenly there's the scary prospect that it might not be so easy to land a new position, and just knowing there's uncertainty ahead could make someone feel a lot more powerless, especially if they haven't been entirely diligent in upgrading their skills.