An old joke: Q: What's the difference between a contractor and a permie? A: The contractor KNOWS they have no job security. IMHO after working years in tech

An old joke: Q: What's the difference between a contractor and a permie? A: The contractor KNOWS they have no job security. IMHO after working years in tech - your only real job security is your skillset. OTOH, working in public sector can be quite secure, and a good idea while kids are growing up.