I asked this question at the start of the year: Is 2026 going to be the worst year for IT layoffs?
Now, it is mid year, so let’s look at IT/tech layoffs through mid-2026 compared to the past 10 years:
2026 Tech Layoffs (through June 2026)
Current total: ~156,000–172,000 tech workers laid off
- As of June 9, 2026: 156,058 jobs cut across 50 tech companies
- Some trackers show 172,130+ jobs cut for 2026
- First 5 months (Jan-May): 128,940 tech workers laid off
- March 2026 was the worst single month: 49,452 layoffs
- Major employers: Oracle (30,000), Amazon (16,000–30,000), Meta, Microsoft, Dell
Comparison with Previous 10 Years
| Year | Tech Layoffs | Key Driver |
|---|
Key Findings
2026 is NOT the worst year — it’s still behind the 2023 peak:
- 2023 remains the worst year on record with ~263,000 tech jobs cut
- 2026 is on track to potentially reach ~250,000–300,000 if the pace continues (currently at ~156K through June)
- 2026 has already surpassed 2024 (~152K) and 2022 (~165K) in just 5–6 months
The trajectory is concerning: With 128,940 layoffs in just 5 months and March being the worst month in over a year, 2026 could rival 2023 if the second half remains severe. However, as of mid-2026, it’s still approximately 40–45% below the 2023 peak.
The primary driver has shifted from 2022–23’s funding correction to AI-driven substitution — roles being cut may not return even when revenue grows.
Are we talking about a Revolution?
So 2023 was financial, 2026 is AI restructuring, so is this a revolution in the IT job market?
Yes, this represents a genuine revolution in the IT job market, but it’s more complex than a simple “AI replacing jobs” narrative. Here’s what’s actually happening:
Two Different Layoff Waves
Why This Is a Revolution
1. Jobs Aren’t Just Being Cut — They’re Being Redefined
- Routine, automation-prone roles fell 13% after ChatGPT’s debut
- Analytical/technical/creative jobs grew 20% — AI is augmenting these roles
- Not uniform elimination: AI reshapes more jobs than it replaces
2. The “AI Washing” Problem
Some companies exaggerate AI’s role to justify cuts that are actually about:
- Cost-cutting and slowing demand
- Correcting over-hiring from previous years
- Cloud market leveling off (AWS example)
Reality: It’s both real displacement AND convenient scapegoating
3. Skill Requirements Are Shrinking for Some Roles
- 7% fewer skills needed in automation-prone occupations
- New skills emerging: prompt writing, AI tools, human-AI collaboration
- Workers need non-automatable skills: judgment, interpersonal communication
4. The Funding Narrative Changed
“Whether or not specific jobs are being replaced by AI, the funding for those positions certainly is.”
— Andy Challenger, workplace specialist
CEOs face pressure to demonstrate AI investment value, making job cuts politically convenient.
The Bottom Line
Yes, this is revolutionary, but in a nuanced way:
✅Real transformation: Routine tasks are genuinely being automated✅New demand: AI-augmented roles require different skills⚠️Mixed motives: Some companies use AI as a blanket excuse⚠️ Uncertain long-term: Short-term data shows reshaping, not mass elimination
For someone in your field (SRE, Kubernetes, observability), the outlook is different from entry-level roles:
- Your work involves judgment, complex systems, and human coordination — harder to automate
- But you’ll need AI literacy (prompting, AI tools in workflows)
- The risk is not elimination but reduced team sizes with AI doing more of the routine monitoring/debugging
The tech industry’s guarantee of job stability is gone — this is the fundamental shift.
What are the Safe and Stable Jobs in IT?
Based on the latest data, here are the safe and stable IT jobs going into late 2026 and beyond, ranked by their resistance to AI disruption and growth trajectory:
Top Safe & Stable IT Roles (UK 2026–2035)
1. Cybersecurity Engineer 🛡️
Why safe:
- Cyber threats continue to increase
- AI creates new attack surfaces
- Regulatory requirements keep growing
UK Salary:
- Mid-Level: £55,000–£75,000
- Senior: £75,000–£100,000
- Principal/Lead: £100,000–£140,000
Growth Outlook:
One of the most resilient technology careers for the next decade.
2. Cloud Architect ☁️
Why safe:
- Strategic infrastructure design
- Multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud complexity
- Requires business and technical judgement
UK Salary:
- Senior Cloud Architect: £90,000–£130,000
- Principal Architect: £130,000–£170,000
Growth Outlook:
Still seeing strong demand as enterprises modernise infrastructure.
3. AI / Machine Learning Engineer 🤖
Why safe:
- Building and operating AI systems
- Demand exceeds supply
- Critical for AI adoption
UK Salary:
- Mid-Level: £70,000–£100,000
- Senior: £100,000–£140,000
- Staff/Principal: £140,000–£220,000+
Growth Outlook:
Among the strongest growth areas through 2035.
4. Senior Cloud Engineer ☁️
Why safe:
- Designs and operates large cloud platforms
- Increasing focus on automation and reliability
- Deep infrastructure expertise remains difficult to automate
UK Salary:
- £75,000–£110,000
Typical Skills:
- AWS/Azure/GCP
- Kubernetes
- Terraform
- Observability
- Security
Growth Outlook:
Strong demand across SaaS, fintech, AI and hyperscale companies.
5. Staff Cloud Engineer ☁️🚀
Why safe:
- Technical leadership role
- Cross-team architectural influence
- Requires experience, judgement and organisational impact
UK Salary:
- £100,000–£160,000
- Elite AI/Hyperscaler firms: £160,000–£220,000+
Typical Employers:
- Nscale
- CoreWeave
- Microsoft
Growth Outlook:
One of the safest senior technical career paths available.
6. Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) ⚙️
Why safe:
- Reliability remains business-critical
- AI infrastructure requires even more operational excellence
- Combines software, operations, cloud and observability
UK Salary:
- Mid-Level: £65,000–£85,000
- Senior SRE: £85,000–£120,000
- Staff SRE: £120,000–£180,000+
Growth Outlook:
Particularly strong in AI, fintech and hyperscale environments.
7. Data Engineer 📊
Why safe:
- Data pipelines underpin AI systems
- Data governance requirements increasing
- Real-time analytics demand growing
UK Salary:
- £60,000–£90,000
- Senior: £90,000–£130,000
Growth Outlook:
Consistently one of the most in-demand engineering roles.
8. Technical Project Manager 📋
Why safe:
- Human coordination remains difficult to automate
- AI increases project complexity
UK Salary:
- £60,000–£90,000
- Senior: £90,000–£130,000
9. Technical Product Manager 🧭
Why safe:
- Strategy, prioritisation and stakeholder alignment
- Strong human and business focus
UK Salary:
- £70,000–£110,000
- Senior: £110,000–£150,000
My Specific Context (SRE/Observability)
Given my background in Kubernetes, SRE, Grafana, Prometheus, OpenTelemetry:
I am Already in a Safe Zone Because:
✅ My work involves judgment, complex systems, human coordination— harder to automate [from prior analysis]
✅ DevOps/SRE is #4 in-demand with 17% growth
✅ Cloud architecture skills (your Kubernetes expertise) = 20%+ growth
Key Upgrades to Stay Safe:
- AI literacy — prompt writing, AI tools in workflows
- Security focus — automation security is the 2026 priority
- Observability + AI — AI-driven analytics becoming standard
Bottom Line: What Makes Jobs “Safe”
| Factor | Safe Jobs | Risky Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Task type | Judgment, coordination, creativity | Routine, repetitive, automation-prone |
| Skills | Strategic design, security, AI literacy | Structured, predictable tasks |
| Human element | Cross-functional management | Solo execution |
| Growth | 17-20%+ through 2030 | Declining or flat |
The safest path: Combine your existing SRE/Cloud expertise with AI tools + security focus — this is the sweet spot for 2026-2035.