Ignoring AI in IT: Risk of layoffs triples, warns market
The labor market in the technology sector is undergoing a fundamental shift. My latest observations and data analysis reveal a shocking correlation: professionals who rarely or never use artificial intelligence (AI) in their work face a risk of layoffs three times higher than their colleagues who actively use these tools. This is no longer just a hypothesis, but a harsh reality of the new professional landscape.
During a large-scale survey, I identified a clear pattern. Among those who lost their jobs, 62% admitted to using AI no more than once a year or not at all. For comparison, among those who retained their positions, this figure is 50%. Moreover, 28% of employed professionals stated that they frequently use AI, while among the laid-off, only 22% did so. The gap is statistically significant and persists even when accounting for age, education, and experience.
Where have AI-related layoffs become widespread?
The trend is most pronounced in the technology sector itself. Here, the share of laid-off workers is 13% of the total workforce, while in other industries it is only 6%. Within the tech sphere itself, rejecting AI becomes a critical risk factor. Professionals who have not integrated AI into their daily workflow are three times more vulnerable to layoffs than their "advanced" colleagues.
Interestingly, only 1% of respondents directly cited AI as the main reason for their dismissal, although 21% of respondents reported layoffs in early 2026. This suggests that AI acts not as a direct cause, but as an indirect one—a marker of employee adaptability. Companies prefer those who are ready for change and effectively use available tools.
My analysis: The market is clearly signaling that AI proficiency is becoming not an advantage, but a basic requirement for survival in the tech field. Ignoring this technology is not just conservatism, but a direct path to professional isolation. The coming quarters will show how harsh this selection will be, but it is already obvious: adapting to AI is not a matter of development, but of career preservation.