Exhibit 9
55%
AI cuts are not sticking. The work is coming back as flexible talent.
55% of leaders who made AI layoffs call them the wrong call, and 36% of companies that cut roles for AI have already rehired more than half of them.
Read chapter 02: AI is leading to more layoffs and more flexible talent →Exhibit 9
AI cuts are not sticking
Percent of each surveyed group
Source: Orgvue, 2025; Careerminds survey of HR leaders, February 2026; Robert Half, 2026; Resume.org, January 2026. Four surveys with different bases.Source: 2026 Flexible Workforce Study, Human Cloud and Independently.
The data
| Percent | |
|---|---|
| Leaders: AI cuts were the wrong call | 55% |
| Rehired over half the roles cut | 36% |
| Brought back roles cut for AI | 32% |
| Rehiring cost more than cuts saved | 31% |
| AI fully replaced a role | 9% |
Source: Orgvue, 2025; Careerminds survey of HR leaders, February 2026; Robert Half, 2026; Resume.org, January 2026. Four surveys with different bases.