99% of CEOs Expect AI-Driven Workforce Cuts in Two Years

A vast majority of corporate executives are preparing for workforce reductions driven by artificial intelligence within the next two years, according to a major new global survey, even as separate research questions whether such cuts deliver the promised financial returns. The findings arrive amid a sustained wave of layoffs across the technology sector, with companies increasingly citing AI and automation as key reasons for restructuring.

The 2026 Global Talent Trends report from consulting firm Mercer, which surveyed thousands of executives and employees, found that 99 percent of C-suite leaders anticipate AI leading to headcount reductions in the near term. Nearly all executives, 98 percent, are planning organizational redesigns. However, only 32 percent expressed confidence that their workforce can effectively combine human and machine capabilities. Most leaders believe redesigning work to incorporate AI will yield the greatest return on investment.

This executive outlook coincides with ongoing job cuts. Tracking data indicates that tens of thousands of layoffs have been attributed to AI in 2026 alone. Major technology firms, including Amazon, Meta, Cisco, and Intuit, have...