Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape the job market, and many workers are worried about what this means for their future. After a year filled with layoffs linked to AI, fears around job security are growing as 2026 draws closer.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Kristalina Georgieva, head of the International Monetary Fund, said AI could support economic growth but warned that its effect on jobs is hitting quickly. She said many governments and businesses are not ready for the scale of change.
Economic Growth Comes With Job Disruption
Georgieva said AI could add around 0.8% to global growth in the coming years. But she also warned that many workers could struggle unless they learn new skills. According to her, countries and companies need to start planning now for training and reskilling.
She said the real challenge is not the technology itself, but how unprepared many workplaces are for it.
AI Linked to Tens of Thousands of Layoffs
Her comments follow a wave of job cuts where companies pointed to AI as part of the reason. Data from consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas shows AI was connected to nearly 55,000 layoffs in the U.S. in 2025.
Several major companies publicly mentioned AI during restructuring. Amazon cut about 15,000 jobs last year. At Salesforce, CEO Marc Benioff said 4,000 customer support roles were removed because AI was already handling much of the work. Other firms, including Accenture and airline group Lufthansa, also cited AI when announcing job cuts.
Worker Anxiety Around AI Is Rising
As these layoffs continue to make headlines, workers are becoming more uneasy. A report from Mercer found that fears of losing jobs to AI rose from 28% in 2024 to 40% in 2026. The survey included 12,000 workers worldwide.
Many respondents said company leaders underestimate how stressful AI-related changes feel for employees.
Mixed Views on AI’s Real Impact
Not everyone agrees that AI is driving most job losses. Analysts at Deutsche Bank said worries about AI are likely to grow, but they also noted that some data is unclear. They pointed to a Stanford University study showing fewer job opportunities for new graduates in AI-exposed roles, while jobs for experienced workers stayed mostly stable.
Meanwhile, the Yale Budget Lab said last year that AI has not yet caused major shifts in overall U.S. employment. Its analysis showed that job patterns have stayed largely the same since tools like ChatGPT became popular.
Also Read: ChatGPT Is Testing a New Feature for Jobs and Resumes
Companies Urged to Focus on Training, Not Panic
This view is shared by Sander van’t Noordende, CEO of Randstad. He said many layoffs are more likely tied to economic uncertainty than AI alone, adding that it is still too early to draw firm conclusions.
He said 2026 will likely be a year of adjustment, where companies learn how to use AI to support work rather than replace people. Tasks like hiring, training, and matching workers to jobs could benefit if AI is used carefully.
Investors Watch How Companies Handle AI
Investors are also paying closer attention. Mercer’s report found that most investors are less likely to back companies that fail to train workers to use AI. Many said they prefer firms that help employees adapt instead of leaving them behind.
Workplace expert Ravin Jesuthasan said companies can no longer simply talk about AI. Investors now want clear answers on how businesses plan to combine technology with human workers.
For many employees, the future still feels uncertain. What happens next may depend less on AI itself and more on how prepared companies and workers are for the changes already underway.
