Torsten Sloek, Chief Economist at Apollo Global Management, has stated there is no evidence of job losses caused by AI adoption. Relying on ADP data, he noted that companies are mass-hiring specialists, arguing that cheaper technology, via the Jevons Paradox, only increases demand, simultaneously boosting employment and inflation.

These optimistic views, shared by the heads of OpenAI, Dell, and Goldman Sachs, sharply contrast with actual statistics: nearly 116,000 people have been laid off in the tech sector since the start of 2026. Companies such as Wix, Block, Amazon, and IBM have directly linked their workforce reductions to process automation and resource reallocation toward AI infrastructure.

Meanwhile, future forecasts appear alarming: a Mercer survey reveals that 99% of executives expect at least partial AI-driven layoffs over the next two years. Against this backdrop, the percentage of employees reporting they are "thriving" at work has dropped from 66% in 2024 to 44% in 2026.