The golden handcuffs of healthcare jobs

Author

Lauren Curtis
July 03, 2025

Hey Health Techies!

There’s a lot going on in the world right now.

The “Big Beautiful Bill” passed, slashing Medicaid and sending shockwaves through healthcare. Microsoft just laid off another huge chunk of its workforce, adding to the pile of tech pink slips this year.

And all of it has me thinking about one of the most common things clinicians tell me when we talk about pivoting into health tech. I often hear “I’m worried about job security” or “Sure, that sounds exciting — if you want to end up laid off.”

Honestly? I get it. Watching major industries cut jobs by the tens of thousands is enough to make anyone cling to what feels safe.

But here’s the thing: stability isn’t what it used to be — not in healthcare, not in tech, not anywhere. The question isn’t really “Is this path secure?” It’s “Am I building a career that can adapt, no matter what happens next?”

Let’s break down why that matters more than ever right now.

For decades, healthcare has been the poster child of job security. But in today's shifting landscape, stability means more than knowing you'll have a job—it's about your role evolving as the system does.

Here’s what’s at play right now:

The Big Beautiful Bill & Medicaid Cuts

  • The so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” includes nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts and a new 80‑hour monthly work requirement for enrollees.

  • The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates 11.8 million fewer people insured by 2034.

  • That translates into less reimbursements in hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, potentially threatening facility operations.

  • A modeled scenario shows that cuts to Medicaid and SNAP could cost 1.22 million jobs by 2029, including nearly 500,000 in healthcare alone.

➡️ Bottom line: This bill destabilizes entire communities—especially rural and Medicaid-dependent areas and will significantly erode healthcare job growth as reimbursement dries up.

And it’s not just this bill that we need to be concerned about. Other traditional healthcare models have been showing signs of cracking all year long. Retail pharmacies have been closing at an alarming rate, leaving pharmacy deserts and jobless pharmacists behind.

Then there are the tech layoffs

  • So far in 2025, tech has shed tens of thousands: 95,000 total layoffs so far, including 57,000 in May alone, with June adding more to the tally.

  • Layoffs.fyi reports 93,799 tech workers affected in 392 companies—about 510 tech layoffs per day.

And here’s the part we don’t talk about enough

That so-called “stability” in healthcare? It’s not all that different from the golden handcuffs people complain about in corporate and tech jobs.

It keeps you tied to long shifts, impossible ratios, and administrative chaos — not because it’s fulfilling or future-proof, but because it feels too risky to break free.

So yes, tech might look volatile right now. Healthcare might seem steady. But if you’re staying purely out of fear — afraid to explore, to learn new things, to pivot into something that excites you — that’s its own kind of trap.

Recommendations for clinicians

  1. Upskill proactively. Learn data basics, AI tools, telehealth design.

  2. Watch funding trends. Medicaid/SNAP cuts are a powerful ripple—stay informed state by state.

  3. Build flexibility into your career. Think beyond the hospital unit—consider roles in startups, public health, or consulting.

Real stability isn’t about staying in the same spot forever. It’s about growing skills that keep you relevant, marketable, and in demand no matter what industry you’re in or how the world shifts.

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Until next time,

Lauren

P.S. I’m opening the doors soon to the Hey Health Tech Community—a cozy corner of the internet where clinicians like you learn how healthcare tech actually works (minus the jargon and overwhelm). If you’ve been curious about AI, digital health, or how to keep your skills future-proof, this is your chance to explore it all alongside peers who get it.

👉 The waitlist is officially open. Get on it, and you’ll be first to know when we launch (plus get some early bird perks). Your future self will thank you.