In recent years, thousands of U.S. software workers have been laid-off as more jobs move overseas where labor is inexpensive. Many laid-off programmers who have sought benefits under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program have been denied aid because software and information technology services are not tangible products. A lawsuit has been filed against the Labor Department accusing them of illegally denying benefits to the laid-off software workers.
See "Laid-Off Programmers Sue for Aid", Los Angeles Times, January 28, 2004