Home / Business and Economy / NY Layoffs: AI Use Remains Unreported
NY Layoffs: AI Use Remains Unreported
9 Feb
Summary
- Over 160 NY companies filed for mass layoffs since last March.
- No employer cited technological innovation or automation as a reason.
- New York's unique question on layoff filings yielded no AI-related responses.
In New York state, over 160 companies have reported mass layoffs since last March, affecting nearly 28,300 workers. A unique question added to layoff filings asked employers to cite technological innovation or automation, including AI, as a reason. However, as of the end of January, no business has indicated this as a cause for workforce reductions.
Major companies like Amazon and Goldman Sachs, which are known AI adopters, have filed layoff notices. Despite internal discussions linking some job cuts to AI's productivity potential, public filings do not reflect this. Companies may face reputational risks or find it challenging to directly attribute layoffs to technological advancements.
New York's Department of Labor, under Governor Kathy Hochul's directive, implemented this specific inquiry to gauge AI's impact. The data suggests that current layoff drivers remain traditional, such as economic reasons, rather than direct AI replacement of human workers.
