From Layoffs to Liftoffs: How AI Job Losses Will Spark the Next Big Hiring Boom
From Layoffs to Liftoffs: How AI Job Losses Will Spark the Next Big Hiring Boom
The Short-Term Shock: Layoffs and Uncertainty
Artificial intelligence is disrupting the workforce at record speed. This year alone, tens of thousands of layoffs have hit the technology and services sectors, with AI directly cited as a leading cause. Routine and entry-level roles, from data entry to customer support, are especially at risk as organizations automate to increase efficiency.
But is this the end of the story?
History Repeats: Tech Upheaval Yields New Booms
Recall the dawn of the computer age: Millions feared job loss as typists, switchboard operators, and clerical staff were replaced by digital solutions. Yet, computers didn't destroy the workforce—they transformed it, creating entire new industries, from software development to digital marketing and IT support.
AI's impact now follows a similar curve:
- Immediate Impact: As of 2025, up to 38% of U.S. companies are replacing workers with AI tools. Globally, tech-driven job losses are measured in the tens of thousands monthly.
- Transformation, Not Destruction: Forecasts suggest that by 2027, AI will eliminate about 83 million roles, but also create around 69 million new ones in fields we’re just beginning to imagine.
Why Layoffs Could Spark the Next Big Hiring Boom
- Technology Redefines Work: While AI replaces repetitive jobs, it unlocks new frontiers in sectors like healthtech, education, and creative industries.
- Emerging Job Categories: Just as computers made programmers, AI is creating demand for machine learning engineers, prompt designers, AI governance officers, and more.
- Opportunity for Upskilling: Reskilling and adaptation remain the surest pathways to job security and growth.
Liftoff: Where the Next Big Opportunities Will Be
- AI Specialists & Trainers: Designing, training, refining AI solutions.
- AI Prompt Engineers & Data Annotators: Coordinating human-AI collaboration and labeling data.
- Data Analysts & Storytellers: Turning information into business insight.
- AI Ethics & Safety Advisors: Guiding responsible tech development.
- Healthcare, Education, and Creative Roles: Applying AI to solve human problems uniquely.
How to Prepare (and Thrive) in the Age of AI
- Reskill and Upskill: Embrace continuous learning—skills like AI implementation, data analysis, and creative collaboration are in high demand.
- Seek Human-Plus Skills: Problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity will become more valuable as AI automates the routine.
- Leverage New Training Programs: Take advantage of rapid reskilling initiatives from forward-thinking employers and governments.
Conclusion
AI might seem like a threat today, but every revolution—from the assembly line to the computer—has delivered more opportunity long-term than short-term loss. The jobs of tomorrow will look different, but they’re already within reach for those ready to adapt.
“Technological progress always causes some job loss in the short run, but history shows that the long-term result is a wave of new opportunities that no one expected before the technology arrived.”
So, as we shift from layoffs to liftoffs, make sure you’re prepared to rise with the next hiring boom.
About the Author
Aman Kulshrestha is a technology leader currently a CTO at My Mudra Fincorp Limited, specializing in workforce transformation and emerging tech. Read more →