How Job Seekers Are Staying Ahead of Layoffs in 2026

Nobody wants to learn about a restructuring from a calendar invite titled “Quick Chat.” Yet, with layoffs continuing across the tech industry, workers are finding ways to prepare for what might come next. 

So far in 2026, Layoffs.fyi reports that about 133,217 tech employees have been laid off across 323 companies. That's already higher than the 122,606 employees laid off across 278 companies in 2025. 

As companies cut costs and restructure their businesses, career professionals and job seekers are finding means to stay relevant and prepared for the trend. Here are three things they are doing to stay ahead. 

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1. Learning AI Skills 

More workers are learning how to use AI tools at work to handle tasks faster and at the same time expand the skills they can offer employers. 

According to PwC's 2026 survey, 64% of workers used AI at work in the past 12 months, a 10-percentage-point increase from the previous year. Daily use of generative AI also rose from 14% to 22%, which has resulted in more AI talent. 

Beyond the increase in the number of people learning, the benefits also extend to job security and pay. The survey found that 68% of daily AI users were very confident about their job security, while PwC's AI Jobs Barometer found that workers with AI skills earned a 62% wage premium. 

2. Building Other Income Streams 

Scroll through almost any social media platform, and you will find people talking about the importance of having a second stream of income.

For many, it comes down to financial needs, but for career professionals, it is also becoming a way to prepare for uncertainties in the job market and ensure that a layoff does not cut off their only source of income.