In 2026, the question is no longer whether AI could cause layoffs, but how it is permanently restructuring the labor market. We are currently experiencing what economists call the « Great Restructuring. »
Yes, waves of layoffs are occurring, but they don’t necessarily resemble the industrial crises of the past. Here’s an overview of the current situation.
« Permanent Layoffs »
Unlike the high-profile, publicized restructuring plans of the past, we are now seeing a trend toward « permanent layoffs. »
Instead of eliminating thousands of jobs at once, companies are implementing targeted and recurring cuts (often fewer than 50 people at a time) to adjust their workforce as AI becomes more autonomous.
2025 was a turning point: Nearly 250,000 jobs were eliminated in the global tech sector last year, with AI as the primary driver of restructuring.
From Operator to Manager: The shift to « AI agents » (capable of performing complex tasks without constant human supervision) is transforming employees: they are no longer asked to execute, but to supervise automated processes.
Sectors in the Eye of the Storm
The AI of 2026 is no longer limited to repetitive tasks, but is directly impacting non-routine cognitive professions.
What’s really changing this time is the speed. Where the industrial revolution took decades, the impact of AI is spreading in a matter of months.
The challenge for 2026 is no longer the survival of the job, but the ability to reskill: 40% of companies plan to train more than 20% of their staff this year to avoid laying them off.