Job Market 2026: Why Everyone Is Getting Laid Off—And How to Be the Exception

AI layoffs are everywhere — but is this really about AI, or are companies just using it as an excuse? I sat down with Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, who has access to data most people never see — and her answer will change how you think about your career. By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly which jobs are at risk, which skills will matter most by 2030, and what to do in the next 90 days to make sure you're on the right side of this shift.

0:00 — Are AI Layoffs Real? The Truth Behind the Headlines
0:02:01 — Saadia Zahidi: "Companies Are Using AI as an Excuse"
0:02:39 — Atlassian, Amazon, Microsoft: The Pattern Behind the Cuts
0:03:45 — What Tasks Are Already Being Exposed by AI
0:07:40 — The Tasks Are Being Reshuffled — Not the Jobs
0:08:45 — Saadia: 50% Will Need Reskilling by 2030
0:10:51 — The 11 People With Nowhere to Go
0:12:01 — Layer 1 vs Layer 2: A Framework to Know If AI Can Replace Your Work
0:13:30 — Saadia: The Skills That Will Matter Most by 2030
0:14:55 — The 3-Part Skill Set of People Who Will Thrive
0:16:13 — Saadia: Why Group Work Is the Most Underrated Career Skill
0:17:05 — Your 30/60/90 Day Plan to Stay Ahead
0:18:35 — Saadia: Her Advice to the Next Generation — And Why She's Still Optimistic
0:19:46 — What You Can Control Right Now

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