As we enter 2026, many workers face growing risks of job displacement. While the economy in Kenya and globally shows signs of growth, the productivity is high, but job security is becoming increasingly fragile for many.
If you feel a sense of unease about your position, you are not alone. A recent December 2025 poll by Infotrak revealed that 15% of Kenyans specifically fear retrenchment in 2026.
A recent survey of business leaders reveals that nearly 6 in 10 companies plan layoffs in 2026, with many citing continued economic pressure and the adoption of automation technologies such as AI as key factors behind workforce reductions.
Here is why you may be at risk and how to survive job loss.
1. AI Integration
In 2026, most companies have moved past just merely talking about AI, but they are now actively implementing it to drive greater efficiency.
Instead of mass layoffs, many firms are adopting workforce optimization, whereby employers are now combining multiple roles into one and relying on AI to manage the extra workload.
Some of the roles that will be affected by this integration include clerical jobs, secretarial, and basic administrative work that are experiencing low demand compared to 2024 as Agentic AI takes over tasks like data entry, scheduling and customer support.
2. Skills Mismatch
The half-life of technical skills has dropped to just 5 years. If you haven't upskilled since 2021, half of what you know is likely outdated.
Interestingly, high-salaried employees are currently at higher risk of losing their jobs. According to a September 2025 survey by a recruitment firm, companies are looking to cut costs by replacing expensive middle management employees with AI-fluent junior staff and can produce the same output for less.
46 per cent of business leaders cited lack of AI-related skills as a primary reason on why they were targeting specific employees during downsizing.
3. The Shift to Performance-Only Metrics
Showing up alone is no longer enough with the rise of hybrid work and digital monitoring.
It is reported that in 2026, employers now want quantifiable impact that can be proved. If you cannot point to a specific way that you contributed to the company's growth, you are viewed as a liability cost rather than an asset.
4. Economic & Regulatory Pressure in Kenya
In the Kenyan market, specific pressures such as taxation and compliance are impacting salaries.
Stricter KRA digital monitoring and new tax measures are forcing SMEs to automate their back-office functions, just to stay compliant without hiring more staff.
Soaring business expenses and climate-related threats, including concerns over a potential 2026 drought, are prompting companies to pause recruitment and adopt a cautious, cost-saving approach.
How to Become Unfireable in 2026
1.Focus on achieving results rather than merely completing tasks.
2.Master Applied AI by leveraging tools like Gemini to perform your job tasks up to ten times more efficiently.
3. Prioritize unique human skills such as empathy, advanced negotiation, and crisis management. This is because AI cannot replicate a teacher’s motivation or a nurse’s compassionate care.
4. Shift your mindset by diversifying your income through side hustles, which are no longer just for extra cash but your insurance policy.
