Tech workers who use AI less than monthly face triple the layoff risk of those who use it regularly, according to Gallup's survey of employment patterns.

What happened: Gallup surveyed employed and unemployed workers about their AI use at work. About 62% of laid-off workers reported using AI once a year or less, compared with 50% of currently employed workers. Within the technology sector—which accounts for 13% of laid-off workers but only 6% of the employed workforce—those using AI less than monthly were three times more likely to lose their jobs than monthly users.

Why it matters: The pattern held even after accounting for age, education, industry, and time since each layoff, suggesting that regular AI use itself, not just job role or sector, helped determine who kept employment. Gallup noted that this finding points to a divide within an industry already showing higher layoff exposure than others, and frames AI use as an indicator of workforce readiness for change.

What to watch: Only 1% of workers blamed AI directly as the primary cause of job loss, even as 21% of employees reported that their employers cut staff in early 2026. The coming quarters may show whether workers who do not use AI continue to face steeper odds in the job market.