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This episode originally aired May 3, 2023.

While it\u2019s never been easy to get one of the coveted spots at big-name Silicon Valley firms, this year there\u2019s an added wrinkle: The tech industry is reeling from mass layoffs. Many human resources departments and recruiting budgets have been slashed, which could put up even more barriers for candidates from underrepresented groups, said Ruthe Farmer, founder and CEO of the Last Mile Education Fund, which helps low-income students get through college and get on track for a career in tech. That\u2019s challenging even in the best of times, she told Marketplace\u2019s Meghan McCarty Carino. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation.