5 Jobs That are More Likely to See Layoffs (and 5 Jobs That Aren’t)

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You may be surprised to find that your career is one of the most likely to see layoffs — or not.
Last updated April 3, 2023 | By Jenny Cohen Edited By Ellen Cannon
boss sending you're fired letter to layoff employee

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The workforce continues to change as more employees work from home or switch jobs for better pay and benefits.

But some employees may also have changed jobs out of necessity as companies have laid off workers due to changes in the market.

So is your position at risk? Revelio Labs took a look to find out which jobs are most at risk and which jobs are safe.

Recruiter (Most likely)

Seventyfour/Adobe woman talking to young woman across table during job interview

Recruiters may be in less demand than they used to as more people switch jobs. The Great Resignation has led to an increase in the number of people looking for a new job, which means it may be easier to find someone who’s a good fit for an open position. 

Consequently, companies may be less likely to need a recruiter to search for those hard-to-find workers.

Customer success specialist (Most likely)

ty/Adobe female customer support operator with headset and smiling

As more employees work from home, it may not be as necessary to coach workers on how to interact with customers on a face-to-face basis. 

Customer training that was once in the workplace may also have been moved online with more workers at home, making it easier to handle training for a lower cost and with fewer people.

Software engineer (Most likely)

REDPIXEL/Adobe developing programming and coding technologies

One reason software engineers may be on this list is that there are so many of them. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are more than 1.6 million software developers in the U.S. 

If positions are deemed redundant or a company’s needs are met, software engineers may see pink slips.

Pro tip: The BLS estimates that software developers make more than $100,000 as a median annual salary. You may face an increased threat of a layoff, but there are also money moves if you make more than $5,000 a month that can help you offset any potential job loss.

Data scientist (Most likely)

Artem/Adobe businesswoman standing near the display with graphs

Data science may be a growing field, but that could also lead to layoffs as companies hire data scientists and then don’t know how to best utilize their talents. 

The good news is the field is growing and the number of data scientist jobs is expected to increase by 35% in the next decade, according to the BLS.

UX designer (Most likely)

weedezign/aDOBE  asian UX developer and UI designer brainstorming about mobile app interface

UX designers work on the connections between human users and a product like a website, mobile app, or even a physical item. 

But as companies redesign how they interact with a post-pandemic world, they may not have the same need for specialized positions for UX designers.

Technology lead (Least likely)

elnariz/Adobe group meeting in discussion

Even if lower positions are being cut, a technology lead is still important for the overall running of a project from start to finish. 

A tech lead can be in charge of all the moving pieces of projects to get them up and running, making themselves invaluable for a company’s production output.

Corporate trainer (Least likely)

Vadim Pastuh/Adobe woman in office is watching online class

While more people work from home, corporate training is still an important part of employees’ jobs. Plus, corporate trainers have proven in recent years that training can be done online as well as in person, which has made it easier for them to complete their tasks.

Auditor (Least likely)

deagreez/Adobe businessman analyzing a document

Computers can only do so much, and an auditor’s job is to watch out for issues that may fall through the cracks or flag things that may not be noticed by computers. Auditors also fill an important regulatory role that can’t be done by computers or automated.

Technology analyst (Least likely)

SFIO CRACHO/Adobe  team working together at meeting room

As technology continues to improve, analysts will need to be available to work on how to keep systems running. They also may need to figure out ways for their human coworkers to interact with different technology so a company can run efficiently.

Project manager (Least likely)

Studio Romantic/Adobe business team analyzes sales graphs and charts

Project managers are needed for everything from technology projects, construction projects, consulting projects, and more. 

A good project manager can keep things running smoothly and efficiently to get a project done and help companies make money when they can complete their goals.

Bottom line

fizkes/Adobe woman works with bills invoices at home office

It’s good to prepare your finances for a layoff whether you’re in the most likely or least likely group to be laid off. Consider building up your emergency fund so you have cash on hand in case something happens to your job. 

And remember to keep your resume, LinkedIn, and other professional connections up to date so your job hunting may be easier.

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Author Details

Jenny Cohen Jenny Cohen is a freelance writer who has covered a bit of everything, from finance to sports to her favorite TV shows. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and FoxSports.com.