99% of CEOs are planning AI layoffs in the next 2 years — and entry-level workers are facing the biggest hit Evangelists of artificial intelligence, as well as leaders in that industry (1), say they believe the estimates of job losses due to AI are vastly overblown.
CEOs, though, are telling a different story
A new study from consulting firm Mercer finds that virtually every employer is planning to cut jobs due to the technology (2). The 2026 Global Talent Trends report spoke with 825 C-suite leaders, along with 1,650 HR leaders, and a jaw-dropping 99% of the executives surveyed said they expect AI to lead to at least some headcount reduction in the next two years. Must Read – – – Millionaires under 43 are reshaping investing — just 25% of their portfolios are in stocks.
Here’s where their money is going Nearly as many (98%) said they are also planning organization design changes in that same time period. Meanwhile, just 32% of the CEOs surveyed said they believed the workforce can combine both human and machine worker capabilities in an optimal manner, despite just under two-thirds saying they felt that redesigning work to incorporate automation will drive the greatest return on investment. Bad news for grads The discouraging study numbers could be especially bad news for entry-level workers.