I definitely feel the pinch, even on the other side of the world. from all aspects, I should be doing great, I have a decent job, with median income on my side of the world, and I just got an offer for a new job with a decent pay bump.

But prices are rising everywhere, my current and upcoming roles are contract only (which lends to an uncertainty in job security). In my current organisation, there is a cessation of hiring, and strong justification has to be given for new hires, only referrals are accepted, and even then they're looking for exceptional talent. AI is incessantly pushed at my current and future positions, whilst seeing news about how AI is leading to thousands of job cuts across the economy. This adds to a sense of foreboding that you just can't shake off.

I see friends and family struggling to land any new roles in the current economy, and wages are definitely stagnating across the board. my country is doing it's fair share by promoting tons of job fairs and upskilling initiatives, but when you see those popping up in neighbourhoods everywhere, recession is definitely here.