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5 Types of People Most at Risk for Losing Their Jobs in 2027

The layoff wave isn't slowing, and these workers are most exposed.

By Josh Koebert , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Nov. 15, 2026

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Layoff announcements topped 1.1 million in 2025, the highest total since the pandemic, and the pattern was clear: the cuts landed disproportionately on salaried, professional workers rather than hourly employees. The rise of remote work has also made it easier for companies to restructure or eliminate certain positions.

With these trends expected to continue, some workers could face a greater risk of layoffs in 2027 and have money feeling tight going forward. Here's a look at the types of employees who may be most vulnerable.

Workers in structured, repeatable knowledge work

The jobs most visibly at risk are ones built around tasks that follow a predictable pattern: drafting standard documents, pulling data reports, reviewing contracts for routine issues, processing claims, or summarizing research. These are exactly the tasks AI handles most reliably.

Since 2023, employers have cited AI directly in more than 70,000 announced job cuts. The roles disappearing first tend to be the ones where the output is predictable, and the process can be written down as a series of steps.

Mid-level managers in flattening organizations

Large companies are explicitly reducing management layers. Amazon told its leadership to raise the ratio of individual contributors to managers by at least 15%. Meta, Google, and Microsoft have all made similar moves.

A WEF survey found 40% of employers expect to reduce staff where AI can automate tasks, and management roles that exist primarily to coordinate, relay information, or oversee routine workflows are most exposed. Managers who can lead through ambiguity, retain talent, and drive outcomes are far less vulnerable than those in coordination-heavy positions.

Remote-capable roles vulnerable to offshoring

Remote work didn't just create flexibility. It also made clear which professional jobs can be done from anywhere. Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom has estimated that 10% to 20% of U.S. service sector, software, and payroll jobs could move overseas within the next decade.

The Society for Human Resource Management has noted that offshoring comparable skilled work to countries like India and Mexico can cut labor costs by 40%. When a job can be done remotely and done more cheaply elsewhere, the combination of those two factors creates real pressure.

Employees in sectors absorbing cost and tariff pressure

Not all layoff risk comes from AI. Companies facing tariff-driven cost increases, margin compression, or investor pressure to cut expenses tend to start with the parts of the organization that are hardest to tie directly to revenue.

That often means marketing teams, HR generalists, internal communications, middle-office finance, and corporate strategy functions. A survey of hiring managers found that 48% of companies planning layoffs are targeting high-salary employees first, which means senior professionals in non-revenue roles face outsized exposure when budget pressure hits.

Recent hires in companies that have stopped backfilling

Last-in, first-out is not a formal policy at most companies, but it functions like one. When companies cut, newer employees often have less organizational capital, fewer internal advocates, and less institutional knowledge that would make their departure costly.

42% of companies planning cuts in 2026 identified recently hired workers as a priority target. If you joined a team that has since stopped backfilling open roles, that's a signal worth paying attention to.

What actually reduces exposure

Workers who are keeping their jobs tend to have a few things in common. They help their companies make or save money, maintain important business relationships, and perform tasks that require human judgment rather than following a set process.

To improve your job security, focus on developing skills that work alongside AI rather than compete with it. It also helps to show how your work increases revenue or reduces costs.

Bottom line

Workers in salaried, remote-friendly jobs that involve repetitive tasks may face a higher risk of layoffs in 2027, especially if their work doesn't directly generate revenue. If your job falls into one or more of these categories, now is a good time to prepare for a potential job loss.

One way to protect yourself financially is to make some extra money on the side through freelancing, consulting, or part-time work. Having another source of income can help you cover expenses if you lose your job, reduce financial stress, and build professional connections that could lead to new opportunities.