Reply to: State of the Market

[coolhandluke]

I had a holiday in Feb. Was in Dubai racing my bike, well before WW3. Really enjoyed it. So, I'm thinking about buying a flat and working out how I can retire there. I'm not saying it's perfect but I'm sick of the poor weather in London.

The thought of working another 10yrs fills me with dread if I am honest. I really enjoy work but 10yrs is a long time and life is too short to be coding until I'm 60.

My other half and I have been having the same discussions. 51 this year and I can't see me coding until I'm 60. Plan A is to sell-up and downsize to be mortgage free, Plan B is to holiday let our current home and rent/buy somewhere cheaper near the coast.

We have also talked about maybe using the Digital Nomad Visa for Spain but property rental costs in Spain are quite high, plus the hassle of the tax implications.

I want to spend the next 10 years having fun whilst I can. Not moaning about lack of requirements or test plans....

[willendure]

Have you been to Dubai between May and, say, September?

Hot and humid. Bahrain is nicer, hot but dry.

[sadkingbilly]

I had a holiday in Feb. Was in Dubai racing my bike, well before WW3. Really enjoyed it. So, I'm thinking about buying a flat and working out how I can retire there. I'm not saying it's perfect but I'm sick of the poor weather in London.

The thought of working another 10yrs fills me with dread if I am honest. I really enjoy work but 10yrs is a long time and life is too short to be coding until I'm 60.

masalaama

[ladymuck]

I had a holiday in Feb. Was in Dubai racing my bike, well before WW3. Really enjoyed it. So, I'm thinking about buying a flat and working out how I can retire there. I'm not saying it's perfect but I'm sick of the poor weather in London.

The thought of working another 10yrs fills me with dread if I am honest. I really enjoy work but 10yrs is a long time and life is too short to be coding until I'm 60.

Have you been to Dubai between May and, say, September?

[SchumiStars]

I had a holiday in Feb. Was in Dubai racing my bike, well before WW3. Really enjoyed it. So, I'm thinking about buying a flat and working out how I can retire there. I'm not saying it's perfect but I'm sick of the poor weather in London.

The thought of working another 10yrs fills me with dread if I am honest. I really enjoy work but 10yrs is a long time and life is too short to be coding until I'm 60.

[willendure]

Hays share price hit an all time low today. Not getting any decent enquiries at all, its been very quiet since Christmas.

state of the market - "come on baby, pull up....pull up" (Maverick, Top Gun).

I think the business cycle is not far off topping out, liquidity cycle seems to be. That means green shoots are at least 18 months away - a whole new economy and the first all AI business cycle.

[Bluenose]

Hays share price hit an all time low today. Not getting any decent enquiries at all, its been very quiet since Christmas.

state of the market - "come on baby, pull up....pull up" (Maverick, Top Gun).

[willendure]

Building AI Pipelines seems to be where it's going and what I'm focusing on.

I'm also using Codex now to help build a new front end and it's quick to get initial results but tiresome to use. It seems to default to use the most complicated solution possible, much like your average React developer creating what is essentially a HTML form

I agree, you want to be using AI not being used by AI.

[coolhandluke]

I dont want to be a bringer of bad tidings but, i just cant see the newer AI stuff (2026 only) having only a small effect on professional services in general.

How many people are typing stuff into basic, free AI chat and getting a legal opinion or, cut and pasting their entire accounts into a pro subscription to check if its right? Thats not to mention the hordes of front end developers and web creative staff that have already been thrown under the bus and will be lucky to pick up minimum wage in 2027.

I hope unemployment peaks, dont get me wrong we are all in the same boat on that front but thats got to be a very optimistic few on an economic cycle that probably saw this type of disruption last in the 1970s.

Building AI Pipelines seems to be where it's going and what I'm focusing on.

I'm also using Codex now to help build a new front end and it's quick to get initial results but tiresome to use. It seems to default to use the most complicated solution possible, much like your average React developer creating what is essentially a HTML form

[Bluenose]

https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandp...-b1273514.html

Unemployment will peak this year.
London is suffering from lack of hospitality, tourism and rental incomes.

...so it looks like we have not quite hit the bottom yet.

I dont want to be a bringer of bad tidings but, i just cant see the newer AI stuff (2026 only) having only a small effect on professional services in general.

How many people are typing stuff into basic, free AI chat and getting a legal opinion or, cut and pasting their entire accounts into a pro subscription to check if its right? Thats not to mention the hordes of front end developers and web creative staff that have already been thrown under the bus and will be lucky to pick up minimum wage in 2027.

I hope unemployment peaks, dont get me wrong we are all in the same boat on that front but thats got to be a very optimistic few on an economic cycle that probably saw this type of disruption last in the 1970s.

[sadkingbilly]

so far, so good......
so far, so good..........

[SchumiStars]

https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandp...-b1273514.html

Unemployment will peak this year.
London is suffering from lack of hospitality, tourism and rental incomes.

...so it looks like we have not quite hit the bottom yet.

[sadkingbilly]

I made that mistake in my last 'fat' contract. I didn't really notice the volume of recruiter calls dropping off over the two years I was there and assumed I would walk straight into another contract at a similar rate as I had always done in the past.

Keep an eye on the market and be prepared. It is always better to learn new skills when you are being paid.

I'm a Zseries sysprog. i REALLY don't care. <i virtually don't care too>
As for 'new skills', I get those from release notes for latest IBM Z/OS versions.

[TheDude]

I also am not looking, so i don't care.

I made that mistake in my last 'fat' contract. I didn't really notice the volume of recruiter calls dropping off over the two years I was there and assumed I would walk straight into another contract at a similar rate as I had always done in the past.

Keep an eye on the market and be prepared. It is always better to learn new skills when you are being paid.

[sadkingbilly]

I also am not looking, so i don't care.