Refusal to use AI at work: the risk of dismissal in IT has tripled — new data
The labor market in the technology sector is experiencing a tectonic shift. According to a fresh analysis, professionals who neglect to use artificial intelligence (AI) or use it less than once a month face a risk of layoff that is three times higher than their colleagues who actively integrate these tools into their daily routine. This is not just a statistic—it is a direct signal that a new level of digital literacy is becoming a critical factor for survival in the profession.
Numbers That Speak for Themselves
The study revealed a clear correlation. Among those who lost their jobs, 62% admitted that they either did not use AI at all or did so no more than once a year. For comparison, among those who retained their positions, this figure stands at 50%. Meanwhile, 28% of working professionals actively and frequently use AI, whereas among the laid-off, only 22% do so. The gap is statistically significant, even when accounting for factors such as age, education, and industry.
"Employees who did not use AI proved to be more vulnerable in the labor market," analysts state.
Tech Sector Under Pressure: Why AI Is Not Just a Trend
Within the technology industry itself, the situation is most dramatic. The share of laid-off workers here is 13% of total employment, while in other sectors this figure holds at 6%. Within this group, professionals ignoring AI face three times the risk compared to those who have integrated it into their workflows. This indicates that companies are actively restructuring, favoring those who can work faster and more efficiently with new tools.
Notably, only 1% of respondents directly attribute their layoff to AI, although 21% reported layoffs in early 2026. This suggests that AI acts not so much as a direct cause but as a marker of employee adaptability. Companies do not fire "because of AI"; they retain those who demonstrate readiness for change.
Analyst's Perspective
The labor market in the crypto and technology sectors has always been volatile, but now we are witnessing a fundamental shift. AI has ceased to be an "option" and has become a basic requirement for productivity. Those who refuse to master these tools risk not just being outsiders but becoming the first candidates for layoffs. My recommendation is simple: if you have not yet integrated AI into your daily workflow—do it today. The coming quarters will show that ignoring technology is the most expensive risk in a career.