I'm in a similar position, in a related sector (public health lab). After covid money ran out, and departments of health were in the red, our finance people are running the show when before it was the scientists.
When I was far younger I was in a similar situation. Public health staff were fired at state run labs by the thousands in some insane effort to privatise public heath. I ended up moving several hundred kilometers to another city.
My advice, at least for my kind, is to try to reframe how your skillset can be applied to other industries ( included public jobs too).
A colleague become an analyst at department of education, they use excel.
Edit: also like to add that after that experience I found a niche that made me highly employable with skills useful outside of my job. But I guess I'm an oddity compared to most traditional scientists.
When I was far younger I was in a similar situation. Public health staff were fired at state run labs by the thousands in some insane effort to privatise public heath. I ended up moving several hundred kilometers to another city.
My advice, at least for my kind, is to try to reframe how your skillset can be applied to other industries ( included public jobs too).
A colleague become an analyst at department of education, they use excel.
Edit: also like to add that after that experience I found a niche that made me highly employable with skills useful outside of my job. But I guess I'm an oddity compared to most traditional scientists.