Member Avatar for techevar

Is Outsourcing taking away good Jobs in the US? Yes or No? are there benefits?

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The thread captures three different truths at once: personal layoffs happened (as described by ), employers chase lower total costs (a frequent theme in replies), and many workers and posters argue that skill and adaptability matter (see and ). Below is a concise, evidence‑based summary and practical steps that complements the opinions already posted.

Research and context: trade and offshoring produce concentrated, long‑lasting harm in the local labor markets most exposed to competition, even when national employment statistics look mixed. (nber.org) A well‑known occupational study found roughly 22–29% of U.S. jobs are “potentially offshorable” (a measure of vulnerability, not a prediction that all those jobs will be exported). (economics.princeton.edu) Later empirical work shows that many roles thought likely to be offshored instead shifted to remote domestic work rather than disappearing overseas. (upwork.com) Offshoring interacts with automation and other forces; analysts stress that task‑level change is large and that reskilling will be a major part of future workforce transitions. () The U.S. maintains programs and grants aimed at displaced workers (Trade Adjustment Assistance and related training efforts), though availability and rules have changed over time. (dol.gov)

Practical, immediate steps (actionable regardless of industry):

  • Prioritize work that is hard to relocate: roles requiring on‑site presence, direct client relationships, regulatory/local knowledge, or rapid physical coordination (these tend to have lower offshoring vulnerability). (economics.princeton.edu)
  • Invest in high‑value skills that employers report will grow (analytical/creative thinking, tech literacy, AI/data skills, and leadership). (weforum.org)
  • Document institutional knowledge and quantify knowledge‑transfer cost before a vendor push—this strengthens bargaining when offshoring is proposed.
  • Explore public retraining and community‑college programs or employer upskilling funds; consult TAA/state resources when trade/offshoring is implicated. (dol.gov)

Caution: complexity matters. Personal stories (like ’s) show outsourcing can and does displace people; at the same time, aggregated projections and occupational studies show a wider mix of outcomes. Use data and concrete reskilling steps to reduce vulnerability and to make stronger business cases when outsourcing is on the table.

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Member Avatar for Momerath

I'm unemployed because my work was given to two people in India. That count for you?

Member Avatar for sungod000

For sure its taking jobs away from USA, Canada and all developed economies where the labour costs are relatively higher. That has been happening for many years now.

Is there a good side, I don't think so. As a USA programmer, your competition now is greater, so you have to be more competitive (cheaper, better, whatever).

Member Avatar for debasisdas

No one can snatch your job if you are competent enough.

Member Avatar for Momerath

No one can snatch your job if you are competent enough.

I disagree. In todays global market a lot of decisions are made based on "what is cheapest". My previous job we serviced a lot of clients and almost all of them decided on the cheapest option we could provide.

I watched coworker after coworker (all USA based) lose their jobs to oversees replacements, not because they weren't good at their jobs, but because it was cheaper to hire someone in India, or Costa Rica, etc. to do the same thing.

Do a search on "jobs moving overseas". Are you really saying that the 100,000's of people who've lost their jobs to overseas competition weren't good at their job? That the only reason to do this is that overseas workers are better than them?

Member Avatar for AndreRet

I suppose there is a two sided way of looking at it. Some people will benefit, others will loose out.

Yes it is cheaper to outsource, but who's smiling in the end, not the permanent employed people about to loose their jobs. The only ones laughing to the banks is the owners/groups of companies that allow outsourcing. They will add value to an already deflated price, making money all the way.

The flip side I suppose is the people getting the "new" contract, making a living because they can not find jobs in their current infrastructure.

Member Avatar for Rashakil Fol

If you're in the U.S. right now and you can actually code, you can find a job. People aren't unemployed because of outsourcing, they're unemployed because they can't code, or because they're not looking very hard, or because they're choosy.

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