AI Anxiety Isn’t the Only Reason Tech Workers Are Staying Put

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues reshaping the tech industry, new data suggests that fear of automation isn’t the main reason tech professionals are staying in their current roles. According to Indeed’s 2025 Tech Workforce Report, job-hopping among technology workers has slowed sharply — a reversal from the “great resignation” of recent years. Only 31% of tech employees now worried about layoffs, down from 39% in 2024, while 41% would consider leaving after layoffs — a steep drop from 70% the previous year. 

Although AI-related layoffs are real — with 26% of respondents saying roles were eliminated due to automation and 35% fearing their jobs could be replaced — the broader picture points to market uncertainty and economic instability as bigger influences. Experts say professionals are staying put due to a mix of risk aversion, tighter job markets, and increased scrutiny over new opportunities. 

Key findings from the survey include: 

• Tech job postings are down — 19% for management roles and 34% for non-management positions. 

• High-demand skills such as distributed computing, machine learning frameworks, and site reliability engineering are still scarce in candidate resumes. 

• Hiring processes are slower, with over half of tech roles taking more than 30 days to fill. 

Industry leaders say this “great stay” is driven by a mix of caution and pragmatism. “It’s not just AI fear — it’s the riskiness of the job market,” said Steve Morris, CEO of NewMedia.com. Meanwhile, Caroline Stokes, a workplace strategist, described the environment as a “cacophony of unstable factors — tariffs, geopolitics, AI — making people stay put for safety.” 

Despite AI-driven restructuring, many tech professionals are redirecting uncertainty into skill development and portfolio building. As Roei Samuel of Connectd put it, “The smartest talent isn’t panicking — they’re preparing.” 

 

Source: 

https://www.zdnet.com/education/professional-development/ai-fear-might-not-be-the-only-reason-tech-talent-is-holding-tight-to-their-jobs/