Ignoring AI in IT: The risk of dismissal triples — new labor market data
The labor market in the technology sector is undergoing a tectonic shift, and new data confirms: refusing to use artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming one of the main risk factors for a specialist's career. Analytics based on a large-scale survey demonstrate a direct correlation: those who use AI less than once a month face a probability of being laid off three times higher than their active colleagues.
Within the IT sector itself, where the level of layoffs is already above the market average (13% of respondents reported losing their jobs), this gap is particularly pronounced. Among laid-off employees, 62% admitted that they either did not use AI at all or used it no more than once a year. For comparison, among those who retained their positions, this figure is only 50%. Moreover, 28% of working specialists actively use AI in their daily routine, while among the laid-off, this figure is only 22%.
Notably, the direct link between AI adoption and layoffs is not recognized by everyone. Only 1% of respondents named technology as the main reason for layoffs, although 21% of workers overall reported downsizing at the beginning of 2026. This indicates that AI acts not so much as a direct cause, but as a marker of adaptability and readiness for change. Employees who ignore automation tools turn out to be less competitive and are the first to be laid off during workforce optimization.
The pattern holds even when adjusted for age, education, industry, and experience. In other sectors of the economy, the link between AI use and job retention is also observable, but it reaches peak significance in the tech industry. This confirms that AI is becoming not just a useful tool, but a critical factor for survival in the labor market.
Analyst's comment: The data confirms what we have been saying for years: AI is not an option, but a new core competency. For specialists in the crypto industry and blockchain, where the pace of change is particularly high, ignoring AI is tantamount to voluntarily becoming an outsider. The coming quarters will show how harsh this selection will be, but it is already obvious: investing in mastering AI tools is the best insurance against layoffs.