Ignoring AI in IT: Risk of dismissal triples — shocking data from a new study
The labor market in the technology sector is experiencing a tectonic shift. Fresh data from a large-scale survey demonstrates a strong correlation between the use of artificial intelligence and job retention. Specialists who turn to AI less than once a month face a risk of layoff three times higher than their colleagues who actively integrate the technology into their workflows.
Numbers That Cannot Be Ignored
The analysis revealed a stark contrast between those who remained employed and those who were laid off. Among laid-off employees, 62% admitted that they either did not use AI at all or resorted to its help no more than once a year. For comparison, among those who retained their positions, this figure is 50%. Moreover, 28% of working specialists actively and frequently use AI, whereas among the laid-off, only 22% do so.
This pattern persists even after accounting for factors such as age, education, industry, and tenure. The gap is statistically significant and points to a fundamental shift in employer requirements.
Technology Sector Under Pressure
The largest gap is recorded precisely in the tech sector, where the share of laid-off workers is 13% of total employment, while in other industries this figure is 6%. Within the IT sector itself, employees who ignore AI find themselves in a high-risk zone. Researchers directly note: within an industry that already shows a higher level of layoffs, workers who have not integrated AI into their daily routine are under the greatest threat.
"Employees who did not use AI turned out to be more vulnerable in the labor market," summarize the study authors.
Notably, only 1% of respondents directly named AI as the main reason for their layoff, although 21% of workers reported layoffs in early 2026. This suggests that AI acts not so much as a direct cause, but as a marker of adaptability and readiness for change on the part of the specialist.
Cryptalist Expert Opinion: The cryptocurrency and blockchain technology market has always been at the forefront of innovation. The data we are seeing now is not just statistics, but a clear signal for all industry participants. Ignoring AI today is equivalent to voluntarily giving up a competitive advantage. In a world where data processing speed and automation are becoming critical factors, a specialist who does not master AI tools risks becoming not just an outsider, but the first candidate for layoffs. The coming quarters will show how painful this lesson will be for those who continue to resist technological progress.