59% of Workers Expect Employers to Use AI to Cut Jobs and Costs in 2026, Says Survey

As businesses continue to roll out AI roadmaps to boost productivity, many workers are not convinced that the technology’s primary purpose will be to benefit employees. A new national survey of more than 1,000 U.S. workers from AI resume builder Resume Now® reveals that the majority of workers (59%) think employers will use AI mainly to cut jobs and reduce costs in 2026, while 48% expect it to improve productivity and collaboration, and 39% expect it to be used for monitoring and control. The AI Agenda Report suggests workers are not rejecting AI outright, but questioning how it will be used and who it will ultimately benefit in the year ahead.

Key Insights:

• AI is expected to serve business needs over worker opportunity: 59% of workers believe employers will use AI to cut jobs and reduce costs.
• Workers do not trust AI to make career decisions: 63% say AI should not be involved in deciding who gets hired or promoted.
• Mandatory AI use may create employee pushback: 29% of workers would feel negatively if required to use AI tools every day.
• AI’s productivity promise has yet to convince workers: 53% of workers expect their workload to stay about the same in 2026.
• Workers look to employers for ethical AI use: 39% say employers should be responsible for ensuring AI is used ethically at work.

“Workers are not necessarily saying AI has no place at work,” said Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now. “What they are saying is that trust depends on how employers use it. If AI is introduced as a tool for transparency, support, and better decision-making, employees may be more open to it. But if it feels like a way to cut costs, monitor workers, or make career decisions without human judgment, resistance is much more likely.”

AI Is Expected to Serve Employers Over Workers

When asked how they expect businesses to use AI in 2026, the majority of workers believe employers will leverage it to cut jobs and costs, even as many also anticipate productivity gains.

59% say employers will use AI to cut jobs and reduce costs
48% expect AI to be used to improve productivity and collaboration
39% expect AI to be used to monitor and control employee activity
11% believe AI will be used to create new opportunities for workers
Workers Draw the Line at AI-Led Hiring and Promotions

The idea that AI will be involved in workflows is not new, but workers are thinking more critically about where they trust it, and where they don’t. When asked if they would trust AI to decide who gets hired or promoted, a majority of workers said AI should not be involved in these kinds of decisions.

63% say AI should not be involved at all in hiring or promotion decisions
28% would accept AI involvement, but only with human oversight
9% would trust AI more than managers with these decisions
Mandatory AI Use Divides the Workforce

When asked how they would feel if their employer required them to use AI tools every day in 2026, workers were mixed, with some feeling optimistic and others so deterred by the idea that they would consider leaving their job altogether.

11% would feel very positive, saying AI would make their job easier
22% would feel somewhat positive and say they could adapt to new tools
38% would feel neutral and wait to see how AI affects their work
20% would feel somewhat negative and feel AI is being forced
9% would feel very negative and consider leaving their job
AI May Not Lighten Workloads After All

Despite promises that AI will save time, most workers do not expect the technology to meaningfully reduce their workload in 2026. Nearly three-quarters expect their workload to stay the same, or become heavier due to the added complexity of managing AI.

53% expect their workload to stay about the same
20% expect AI will make their workload heavier because managing AI adds complexity
27% expect AI to make their workload lighter because automation saves time
Employers Are Expected to Keep Workplace AI in Check

When asked who should be most responsible for ensuring AI is used ethically at work, workers said:

39% - Employers
24% - Tech companies developing AI tools
19% - The government or regulators
12% - Individual employees
6% - No one