37% of Companies Plan to Replace Workers with AI by 2026 as High-Salary Employees Face Greatest Risk
Summary
Nearly 37% of companies plan to replace workers with AI by 2026, with high-salary employees and those lacking AI skills facing the greatest risk as businesses prioritize automation and cost-cutting amid economic uncertainty.
Key Points
- Nearly 37% of companies plan to replace workers with AI by the end of 2026, with 30% having already done so according to a Resume.org survey of 1,000 business leaders
- High-salary employees and workers lacking AI skills face the highest risk of layoffs, along with recently hired and entry-level workers as companies prioritize cost efficiency and automation
- Half of surveyed companies have pulled back on hiring while 39% conducted layoffs in 2025, citing economic uncertainty, trade policy, and AI adoption as primary reasons for workforce reductions