Hi, Im not an H1B but as someone who contracted for decades, it was pretty easy to get hired as a contractor after companies laid off. The entire reason I stayed a contractor was because after being an employee and living under constant threat of layoffs, I decided I couldn't live like that anymore. It was my way of taking control.

Contract labor is not booked as headcount so its not just the cost its also how its budgeted and looks to shareholders.

Obviously our industry hasnt cared a whit about what its employees think since at least 2005 when they thought they were going to send all of it elsewhere.