What happened to the tech talent market in 2021

The 2021 talent market saw significant changes, including the Great Reshuffle, characterized by post-2020 burnout and people rethinking their job aspirations, leading to high rates of job change. Factors driving this trend included higher compensation, remote work opportunities, better work-life balance, re-evaluating life overall, burnout, more growth opportunities, poor management, and better values alignment. Mass layoffs in tech companies also presented an opportunity for hiring teams to engage laid-off candidates. The term "unicorn" lost its allure as 500+ private companies reached $1 billion valuation or higher in 2021. Instead, financial stability, long-term stability, and overall well-being became key motivators for job seekers. Companies like Zapier are responding by focusing on equitable compensation packages, remote work flexibility, and making a positive impact in their sector through movements like National No-Code Day.