Microsoft Layoffs Hit U.S. Engineers: Is It Time to Move to Europe?
Work News | New Stardom
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The latest wave of layoffs at Microsoft has hit software developers particularly hard. According to Bloomberg, programmers were the most affected group in the company’s 2,000-person staff cut in its home state of Washington, at the same time Microsoft now says AI generates up to 30% of its internal code.
While job cuts in tech are no longer headline-grabbing news, this one feels different. Developers, especially those working in widely-used languages like Python, TypeScript, and teams behind Azure SDKs, aren’t supposed to be expendable. And yet, they were the first to go.
For many U.S. engineers, this latest wave signals more than just corporate reshuffling. It raises a deeper question:
Should tech professionals, particularly mid-career engineers and developers, start seriously considering a move to Europe?
Europe Still Wants Tech Talent
While the U.S. tech sector contracts, Europe is actively investing in scientific and technical talent. Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a €500 million initiative to attract U.S. scientists and researchers.
Von der Leyen called recent U.S. funding rollbacks “a gigantic miscalculation,” and described Europe as “the home of academic and scientific freedom.”
This initiative, part of the “Choose Europe” campaign, offers super grants, longer contracts, and doubled relocation bonuses for those willing to build their careers in the EU. It’s not just for scientists: tech workers and STEM professionals are increasingly included in these efforts to fill high-demand roles in AI, data, cybersecurity, and software development.
Meanwhile, U.S. policy is sending mixed signals. As Business Insider reports, the Trump administration has frozen billions in research funding, suspended key academic grants, and created visa bottlenecks that make long-term planning difficult for foreign-born professionals and U.S. citizens alike. [source]
What Are the Visa Options in Europe?
Europe’s immigration pathways for skilled workers are expanding, even as U.S. visa options become harder to predict. Some of the most accessible options include:
EU Blue Card – a work permit available in countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Ideal for engineers and IT professionals with a job offer and a high salary level.
France's Talent Passport – designed for tech, science, or startup professionals with degrees or significant experience. Offers a multi-year permit and family reunification.
Germany’s Jobseeker Visa – lets you move without a job and look for work locally. Ideal for developers and engineers with a recognized degree.
The Netherlands' Highly Skilled Migrant Visa – streamlined for non-EU tech workers with Dutch job offers.
Startup Visa NL – for founders launching innovative businesses, supported by an official facilitator.
Orientation Year Permit (NL) – for recent graduates of top universities in the EU or U.S. planning to enter the Dutch job market.
For detailed visa comparisons, salary thresholds, and step-by-step guides, explore our full Work Visas in Europe in 2025 section.
What’s Different About Working in Europe?
Compared to the U.S., tech professionals in Europe often experience:
More predictable work hours and stronger labor protections
Universal healthcare and lower personal risk during job transitions
Greater stability in remote and hybrid work contracts, though flexibility varies by country
Public investment in research and innovation (rather than relying heavily on VC funding)
Even salary gaps are narrowing in some fields, particularly in cybersecurity, biotech, and applied AI. That makes relocation more than just a lifestyle move—it’s increasingly a strategic career decision.
So… Should You Move?
If you’re a mid-career engineer recently laid off, or feeling vulnerable inside a cost-cutting org chart, the answer might be yes.
Relocating to Europe comes with challenges, paperwork, taxes, housing, and adapting to a new culture. But it also offers a reset: a chance to work in a system that may be more supportive of long-term careers in tech, science, and innovation. Thinking of making the move? Explore our Work in NL section for visa guides, legal updates, and career paths in the Netherlands and across the EU.
As tech layoffs reshape the job market, more U.S. professionals are asking what comes next, and at New Stardom, we’ll be tracking every shift in the future of work.
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