Beginning from year 2008, US Job market is continuously going down and most of companies have freeze hiring. Companies are also ending their contracts with contractors and firing full-time employees since either project are put on hold or sponsors/client of project want lower cost solution in this tough economy.

So Question is, "Is Job market safe for Software Engineer's to change a Job for year 2012 and 2013?"

Yes economy is tough still people are changing jobs and been offer high salary package, even in this tough economy, so Answer depends on

1) What level of expertise you have in Programming field? If you are confident experience developer then there are plenty of opportunities for you.

2) Do you believe in taking risk. Success highly depends on how open you are about to take risk and accept challenging role.

Famous Quote:

"If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything."

"A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for."

"Life begins outside comfort zone".

3) You need to ask yourself, Do you work for money or Do you work because you love to do what you are doing. Money is important but job satisfaction will keep you motivated.

Often people fails because they keep on doing things which they don't like to do, Even a very good developer is considered to be dumb or not fit for job just because they choose to do what they dislike. This unhappy people, stressed, demotivated are also blame for creating negative environment. So it is always important to find what you love to do, otherwise keep on looking and don't settle.

4) Despite economy slow down, Programming Jobs are still in demand. You can check out http://www.indeed.com/jobtrends

5) From Bob Parson's 16 rules
"We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time!" Check out all 16 rules http://www.bobparsons.me/bp_16_rules.php

6) Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown our your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. - Steve Jobs.