
KQED's Forum Tech Layoffs and Higher Than Average Unemployment: A Close Look at the Bay Area’s Job Market
Aug 25, 2025
Joining the conversation are Jeff Bellisario, executive director of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, Aki Ito, Business Insider's chief correspondent focused on tech and workplace culture, and Enrico Moretti, UC Berkeley economics professor. They tackle the dramatic unemployment surge in California and its impact on the Bay Area. Insights on tech layoffs reveal shifts in job availability, while fears surrounding AI’s influence on employment loom large. The trio discusses changing workplace dynamics and the evolving landscape of local economies reliant on tech.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Labor Force Shrinkage Masks Recovery
- The Bay Area has lost population and labor force since the pandemic, worsening local labor dynamics.
- People dropping out of the labor force distorts payroll employment as an incomplete health metric.
Consider Housing-Linked Careers
- Consider housing and development roles because policy shifts aim to boost construction and affordability.
- Target real estate, development, and related professions tied to expanded housing policy efforts.
Bay Area’s Large Boom‑Bust Cycles
- The Bay Area experiences larger booms and busts than many places due to its risk-driven, VC-fueled economy.
- Current low point may reverse if an AI-driven boom concentrates talent and investment locally.


