Tech Workers Who Don't Embrace AI Face Triple the Layoff Risk, Gallup Finds

What happened

Gallup published a June 18, 2026 study on how AI usage affects layoff risk in the tech sector. Tech workers who use AI at least monthly have ~6% predicted layoff probability; infrequent users 18% — a 3x gap.

Context and impact

Data comes from a February 2026 survey of 23,000+ US workers, including 660 who lost jobs to position elimination. The statistical model controlled for age, education, and industry. At the same time, only ~1% of laid-off workers attribute the loss directly to AI — most cite restructuring and cost-cutting. The AI skill gap is therefore indirect but measured and statistically significant.

Details

• ~6% layoff probability for AI-monthly users
• ~18% layoff probability for infrequent users
• N = 23,000+ US workers (Feb 2026)
• Controlled for age, education, industry
• Only ~1% of laid-off workers attribute the layoff directly to AI
• Confirms AI literacy is a new skill-gap risk factor