Mid-career workers feel the squeeze as companies cut desk jobs

Corporate belt-tightening has hit America’s mid-level workforce hard. Employees with significant experience for entry-level jobs but not senior enough for leadership roles are finding themselves sidelined. 

Amazon recently laid off 14,000 office staff, part of plans to slash up to 30,000 white-collar jobs, citing goals to “reduce bureaucracy” and “remove layers. Target, UPS, and Booz Allen Hamilton have also announced similar cuts.

Recruiters say many mid-career professionals are now seen as “overqualified,” leading to rejections even when they’re open to lower pay or fewer responsibilities. 

A Georgetown University study warns the US could face a shortage of 2.9 million managers by 2032, showing how deep the middle-management cuts have gone.

To stay competitive, job seekers are advised to trim their resumes to recent experience and omit graduation years. In a leaner job market, employers want just enough skill—without the price tag of experience.