Ignoring AI in IT: Risk of dismissal triples — data from a large-scale survey
The labor market in the technology sector is undergoing tectonic shifts. According to the results of a fresh study, tech professionals who use artificial intelligence less than once a month face a risk of layoff three times higher than their colleagues who actively use AI in their daily work. This is not just a trend—it is a new marker of professional fitness.
The analysis reveals a deep divide within an industry that already leads in layoff rates. The survey identified a clear correlation: job retention now directly depends not only on position or specialization but also on the regularity of using AI tools.
Numbers That Cannot Be Ignored
Among those who lost their jobs, 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 kept their jobs, this figure is 50%. Meanwhile, 28% of employed specialists "frequently use AI," compared to only 22% of those laid off. This pattern holds even after adjustments for age, education, and industry.
"Employees who do not use AI have proven to be more vulnerable in the labor market," researchers note. This statement sounds like a verdict for those who remain skeptical about integrating neural networks into work processes.
Tech Sector Under Fire: Who Is at Risk?
Within the technology sector itself, the share of laid-off workers is 13% of total employment, while the market average is 6%. However, the most alarming dynamics are observed precisely within this group. The risk of job loss for those who used AI less than once a month turned out to be three times higher than for colleagues actively applying AI.
"Within the tech sector, which already shows a higher layoff rate, workers who have not integrated AI into their daily routine are at greater risk. In other sectors, a link between AI use and a reduced likelihood of layoff is also observed, but the trend is most noticeable in the tech industry," the study results summarize.
Notably, only 1% of respondents directly named AI as the main reason for layoffs, although 21% of workers reported layoffs in early 2026. This suggests that AI acts not as a direct cause but rather as a catalyst—a marker of a team's readiness for change.
Expert opinion: The labor market in technology has finally split into two camps: "digital natives" who organically weave AI into their processes, and "conservatives" who risk being left behind. The coming quarters will show how harsh this division will be. For those who ignore the technology, the price is not just a loss of efficiency, but a loss of their job.