In a survey of 725 professionals who lost employment from the closure of USAID and its programs, 68% are still unemployed, underemployed, involuntarily freelancing, or forced into early retirement as of March 2026. 38% have been searching for a job for over 12 months.
Date: 3/26
Region: Global
Country: Global
Topic: Economy & Livelihoods
Policy Lens: Economic & Trade Interests
Entry Type: Secondary Effect
Additional Context: As reported by Devex, a former USAID employee utilized LinkedIn to conduct an informal survey of global development professionals affected by the cuts to USAID. Within 10 days, 725 global development professionals responded. Of these, 38% were former USAID direct-hire employees, 33% had worked for implementing partners and 15% were contractors. The sample was largely composed of more senior-level professionals, with 65% of those who responded having 15 or more years of experience.
Devex Researcher Note: As noted in the article and by the survey creator, the data sample is largely self-selected and the quantitative findings are directional, not representative. Nonetheless, this information provides a reference point for the ongoing effects to the livelihoods of global development professionals affected by the USAID cuts.
Source: Devex