This week's workplace update brings major challenges for workers worldwide. The technology industry has laid off over 92,000 people in just four months of 2026, making this the worst year ever for tech workers. Companies like Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Oracle all announced big job cuts in April.

The problems go beyond layoffs. A new report from Gallup found that employee engagement is falling all around the world. Global engagement dropped to just 20% in 2025, down from 23% in 2022. Even worse, managers are burning out faster than regular workers. Manager engagement dropped nine percentage points since 2022.

Workers are getting more worried about losing their jobs. People with college degrees now think there's a 25% chance they'll lose their jobs in the next five years, compared to 15% a few years ago. Many people apply for jobs but don't hear back, which makes them feel stuck.

One major problem is that companies can't find people with the right skills for available jobs. Organizations are increasingly using AI-powered technology to match candidates to jobs automatically. These systems use machine learning to score candidates faster than ever before. However, new rules in the European Union require AI systems to have human oversight to protect workers.

At the same time, more companies are hiring contract workers and temporary staff instead of full-time employees. Technology platforms now manage most contracts automatically. The biggest takeaway: workers face mass layoffs in tech, lower engagement, job security worries, and an AI-driven job market where skills often don't match what's needed.