I started looking about 1-1/2 years ago. Nothing. No one would even return my calls.
Someone hit a switch over the summer. I got about 6 or 8 interviews and 3 offers all within the same month. And, these were real offers, not 'Amway'. :-)
The rest of my team was roughly in the same boat that I was in - they've all found jobs (some locally, some not) within the past 3 months, as well.
The new place that I'm at is looking for some senior tech people - can't find any that are worth a flip. The good people are staying put, or commanding a premium salary.
Locally, the economy is fine. Gloom-and-doomers can get stuffed.
Oh, I'm talking about real prospects and interviews. Good companies and good salaries, too. I think the Internet bust shook a lot of the dead wood out of the tech industry and companies are starting to fight over the good people again.
The economy is indeed strong. It is amazing that 90% of the people in this nation either cannot or will not look at easily available sources that have the statistics to back up the claim of a strong and growing economy. They turn on one of the alphabet networks, CNN or CNBC, hear the newsreader say in effect, "the economy sucks" and swallow it hook line and sinker.
I am fully convinced the dumbing down of this nation is deliberate. It is far easier to control people who only know and believe what they are told.