The people leaving are those with 1) marketable skills and 2) their eyes open. And people with marginal skills (focused on dead or dying Ibm products and technologies...most of the portfolio), are jumping while the job market is hot enough for employers to take a chance,.
The ones who are truly screwed are those who don't leave and get cut in the next recession when there's no need to take that chance.
But as a 50-something who just left, age discrimination definitely was part of it. I was highly regarded and have very competitive, in demand skills, and left after 16 years. I looked ahead and decided that there was exactly zero chance of making it to retirement at big blue, and if I was going to jump, better early than later. Everyone should make that same calculation - if you cant make retirement, leave while you can.
Originally posted by @10ii05Dw-1wcn.