Global consulting firm Mercer recently released its latest "Global Talent Trends" report, revealing the significant impact of AI technology on the workplace. Among the 825 business executives surveyed, as many as 99% clearly expect that AI will lead to some level of staff reductions within their companies in the next two years.
Job Cuts in the Tech Industry Exceed 100,000 and Workplace Anxiety Spreads
Data shows that since early 2026, the number of layoffs in the global tech industry has quickly surpassed the 100,000 mark, with the widespread adoption of AI technology being seen as a key factor in most of these cases. As the wave of layoffs approaches, employees' concerns about being replaced and frustration over unequal distribution of AI tools are causing a widespread sense of anxiety within companies.
This workplace uncertainty has directly affected productivity, with the percentage of employees in a "positive work state" dropping sharply from 66% in 2024 to 44% currently. At the same time, the attitudes of business executives have undergone a fundamental shift, with major companies such as Meta and Block no longer simply emphasizing that AI is merely "a tool to assist humans," but rather openly acknowledging the direct causal relationship between AI and job cuts.
High Expectations for Process Reengineering and the Contradiction of Talent Shortages
Despite the looming threat of job cuts, most executives still hold high expectations for the long-term benefits of AI. About 63% of those surveyed believe that redesigning work processes around AI and automation technologies will be the most profitable direction for companies in the coming years.
However, this has placed companies in a rather contradictory reality. Among the factors influencing corporate human resource planning, "accelerated digitalization" and "talent shortages" rank among the top, meaning that while companies are reducing staff due to AI optimization, they are simultaneously facing deep concerns about a lack of top technical talent.
