Rejection of AI has become the #1 risk factor for layoffs: Gallup data shows a threefold gap
The labor market in the technology sector is undergoing a tectonic shift. A new large-scale study has revealed a stark correlation: professionals who use artificial intelligence tools less than once a month face a risk of layoffs three times higher than their colleagues who actively integrate AI into their daily work. This is not just a statistic—it is a signal of a new class divide forming within the industry.
Analysis of data collected from the survey shows that job retention today depends not only on position or specialization, but also on the frequency of interaction with neural networks. Among laid-off employees, 62% admitted that they either never used AI or did so less than once a year. For comparison, among those who retained their positions, this figure is 50%. Meanwhile, 28% of working professionals use AI regularly, while among those who lost their jobs, only 22% do so.
The trend is particularly pronounced in the technology sector, where the share of laid-off workers is 13% of total employment—significantly higher than the market average (6%). Within this group, the gap becomes critical: those who ignore AI face three times the risk compared to their "advanced" colleagues. Even after accounting for age, education, and work experience, this pattern remains statistically significant.
"Employees who did not use AI turned out to be more vulnerable in the labor market," the study authors note.
Paradoxically, only 1% of respondents directly link layoffs to AI adoption, although 21% of workers reported downsizing in early 2026. This suggests that artificial intelligence acts more as a marker of adaptability and readiness for change than as a direct cause of dismissals.
Cryptalist Analytics
The cryptocurrency market and blockchain industry have historically been at the forefront of technological innovation. However, we are now witnessing how "digital inequality" is penetrating companies themselves: those who have not mastered AI risk being left behind faster than their colleagues who are unfamiliar with DeFi. My forecast: in the next two quarters, we will see a sharp increase in demand for specialists capable of integrating AI agents into data analysis, trading, and smart contract development processes. Ignoring this trend is a direct path to professional stagnation.