Is product management now commoditized?

Everyone and their mother became a product manager in the last few years. How safe are these jobs in a recession. I often hear (from engineers who don’t hide their disdain for PMs so maybe a biased opinion) that they are the first one to let go. Is that true?

I just want to know your opinion.

Lately, I am seeing less of general Product Management roles and more of Growth PM ones. Anyone else seeing this shift?

I know Grapevine is full of young and ambitious people that either planning to get into Product or are already working as a PM. I don’t aim to discourage any of you. Moreover, if you need tips to break into Product I would be happy to help you. I personally feel that knowing what you are doing is going to doom is better than normalizing it. So I will convey my experience in simple words, how I hated every single day of it, why did I still stick around for 4 years, why product decisions are random political bullshit, why you should not let anything that happens get under your skin and affect your morale. Finally, few words for sociopathic Head of Products. Lesson #1: Go through all stages of grief at once. Accept that product culture is broken and accept that it will not get better. Finally, you can’t fix it or improve it. Lesson #2: Ratings are political bullshit. I can tell you the years I was rated worse I was probably working harder and better at my job. It just depends on the results you get in the last month before ratings and whether your DOP is vocal for you. Lesson #3: Last piece of advice: do not let your Product years lower your self esteem or sense of self worth. Also, some words for sociopathic Head of Products. F’ you.

The job market has dried up for senior product roles. Do you think the situation will improve soon? What's your overall outlook of product management as a career beyond 10 years? Do you see yourself doing this for another decade? Asking mostly from a supply and demand point of view. Also, has seen that the role is becoming more and more vague and replaceable. Context: Leading a 6 membered product team in a series B funded company. Managing the ceo/cpo opinion differences, moving to wfo from remote, high work pressure and too much reporting. I have been working with series A, series B companies throughout my career.

How's the market for PMs across all levels?

Lately I am observing trend that product roles are going down, not many company believe in hiring product roles. At least small/mid startup wants CTPO roles and they want someone to play dual roles, primarily tech led products roles. Pure product roles is becoming lesser. Even few bigger MNCs have fewer products roles to offer. Is it just me? Or grapevine thinks same as well?

Do you think product management would still be relevant? Have you thought of any fallback career options?