Abandoning AI in IT: Risk of dismissal three times higher — data from a new study
Technical specialists who use artificial intelligence less than once a month face a risk of dismissal three times higher than their colleagues who actively use AI. This is not just a trend—it is a new marker of professional resilience in the labor market.
According to the survey, among laid-off employees, the share of those who almost never used AI (less than once a year or not at all) was 62%. For comparison, among those who kept their jobs, this figure was 50%. Meanwhile, 28% of working specialists regularly use AI, while among the laid-off, only 22% do so.
Tech sector under pressure: who is at risk?
This pattern is particularly pronounced in the technology sector. The share of laid-off workers here is 13% of all employed—twice as high as the market average (6%). Within the industry itself, the gap becomes critical: those who ignore AI lose their jobs three times more often than active users.
Interestingly, only 1% of respondents cited AI as the direct reason for their dismissal. However, the indirect link is obvious: companies conducting layoffs (reported by 21% of respondents in early 2026) primarily eliminate those who do not demonstrate readiness for technological change.
My expertise suggests that we are witnessing not just a correlation but a fundamental shift in employer requirements. AI is becoming not an option but a basic productivity tool. Specialists who refuse to master it risk being left behind—and this trend will only intensify as routine tasks become automated.
The coming quarters will show how strict this filter will be. But it is already clear: investing in AI skills is not about the future—it is about maintaining your current position.