22.12.2025 18:46
The wave of layoffs influenced by artificial intelligence in the United States is threatening not only the American workforce but also global markets. This transformation, which has seen 1.17 million people lose their jobs in the U.S. within a year, is also knocking on Turkey's door. Companies turning to artificial intelligence to reduce costs raises the risk of a similar employment disruption occurring in Turkey in the near future.
The rapid spread of artificial intelligence in the business world has changed the fate of millions of workers in the U.S. According to a recent report published by the consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 1 million 170 thousand people were laid off across the U.S. in 2025. This figure marks the highest level of layoffs since the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020. The reason for the layoff of 55 thousand people was identified as artificial intelligence.
THE MAIN REASON FOR LAYOFFS IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The report emphasized that the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence technologies has become one of the decisive factors in layoffs. Companies' shift towards artificial intelligence for reasons of efficiency and cost advantage has put serious pressure on white-collar workers.
MONTHLY LAYOFF DATA IS STRIKING
Especially in the last months of the year, layoffs accelerated.
In October: 153 thousand people
In November: more than 71 thousand people became unemployed.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AT WORK FOR 55 THOUSAND PEOPLE
According to the report, the number of people who lost their jobs solely due to artificial intelligence reached 55 thousand throughout 2025.
COMPANIES EXPERIENCING A WAVE OF LAYOFFS
The report also listed the companies where layoffs were concentrated. Among these companies, technology firms stood out in particular.
Amazon: 14 thousand corporate positions reduced,
Microsoft: approximately 15 thousand people laid off by 2025,
Salesforce: laid off 4 thousand support staff.
IBM: terminated the employment of 3 thousand employees globally.
CrowdStrike: 500 employees,
Workday: parted ways with 1,750 employees.
TURKEY IS ALSO AT RISK
Experts point out that the wave of layoffs due to artificial intelligence in the U.S. serves as a serious warning for Turkey as well. With the acceleration of digital transformation, automation, and artificial intelligence investments in Turkey, particularly white-collar workers, call center employees, accounting, and support units are among the areas at risk. High inflation, rising operating costs, and pressure for efficiency are pushing Turkish companies to turn to artificial intelligence instead of human labor. It is warned that if this process continues without developing adequate employment policies, sudden and severe disruptions may occur in the labor market.
SECTORS MOST OPEN TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN TURKEY
According to expert evaluations, the sectors that will be most affected by artificial intelligence in Turkey include finance and banking, call centers, retail, logistics, and manufacturing. In particular, in banking, the acceleration of automation in customer services, credit assessment, and operational processes is expected; while in call centers, the employment of AI-supported chatbots and voice assistants is predicted to reduce staffing. In retail and e-commerce, inventory management, pricing, and customer analytics; in logistics, route planning and warehouse automation; and in manufacturing, quality control and planning processes are among the areas where artificial intelligence is expected to spread the fastest.