[irrational]

Where did what people come from? I read OP’s comment as meaning that there were more people working in the field in 2019 than today. So, it is a question of where did all those people go in just 2 years? Presumably a lot died in the pandemic. Others fled the cities and perhaps still work in tech but do so in a more rural location. Perhaps many returned to their home countries.

[vineyardmike]

Not OP but many notable companies have nearly doubled headcount since 2019 (Google, Snap, etc). Surely OP meant that where did this influx of workers come from.

And I think the answer is that this is the population that would work for big tech if they didn’t have to move, or if they didn’t have to work long hours, or whatever. (IMO the last few years have been cushier at big tech than usual).

[dehrmann]

> Presumably a lot died in the pandemic

Deaths weren't a big labor market driver. Around 1 in 300 Americans died from covid, but only a quarter of those were working age, and tech skews even younger. Long covid could be another story.

That said, I read the comment the same as vineyardmike. More people are working in tech today than in 2019, and that's beyond if the 2019 trend had held.