The number of women in the information technology (IT) profession has fluctuated along with the growth of business. The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of women who had been laid off from IT positions during the economic downturn period between 2007 and 2010. The research study was designed to discover if women were seeking to leave the IT profession after experiencing a layoff. The present study involved a survey which solicited participants who experienced a layoff from a technology job between 2007 and 2010. From the respondents, 10 women participated in an interview and provided a description of their lived experience. The data collected were used to develop six noteworthy themes: participant's feelings about being selected for layoff, participant's feelings of fairness in being selected for layoff, interaction with employer during layoff, sensitivity of leadership, prior knowledge of layoff, desire to stay in the IT profession, perception of leaders' support for women in the IT profession. Based on the analysis of the themes, conclusions were derived from the data: women in the IT profession perceived leaders' choices in selecting female employees over male employees for layoff were unfair and possibly unequal, participants shared a desire to stay in the IT profession, women felt a competitive strategy may be gained by pursuing education and focused training, and the women IT workers were dedicated employees who expressed loyalty to the organization, saying they would remain in the IT field if they had the support and loyalty from organizational leaders. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]