I was laid off at 56 and took a 60% pay cut to land my next role — the biggest thing I feel is anger

Christina Jones says many older job-seekers want an opportunity to continue doing what they love. Christina Jones Christina Jones was laid off from United healthcare in 2025 after 15 years at the company Jones struggled to find a job until she accepted a role outside of her scope with a 60% pay cut. She is budgeting and downsizing while continuing to search for opportunities in her desired field. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Christina Jones, a 57-year-old in Philadelphia. It's been edited for length and clarity. Although I didn't expect to be laid off from my business analyst role at United Healthcare last year, after 15 years at the company, I wasn't shocked. Layoffs are the nature of the beast in the corporate world. What shocked me more was how long it took me to find another job.