Omni Calculator Survey Reveals 'Ghost Downsizing' as AI-Driven Workforce Trend
30% of employees report team shrinkage, but only 10% of execs notice.
Omni Calculator, a technology and research company based in Kraków, Poland, has released its Ghost Downsizing AI Survey 2026, based on parallel surveys of 665 employed U.S. adults and 354 C-suite executives. The report identifies an emerging workforce pattern dubbed 'ghost downsizing,' where companies avoid formal layoffs but instead leave roles unfilled after departures and redistribute work among remaining staff. This allows organizations to maintain output without proportional headcount growth.
Key findings reveal a significant perception gap: 30% of employees said their team had shrunk while workload stayed the same or increased, compared to only 10% of executives reporting the same. The technology and media sector showed the highest level of workforce compression at 38%, with 56% of tech executives planning AI-driven workforce changes in the next three years. Remote workers reported higher fear of skill obsolescence (statistically significant with p=0.000000000385) and job loss (73%), while hybrid workers felt more empowered (62%). Additionally, workers earning under $60,000 annually were nearly three times more likely to plan career exits due to automation than those earning over $100,000 (11% vs 4%). The survey highlights uneven AI adoption across industries and income levels.
- 30% of employees report team shrinkage with stable or increased workload, vs 10% of executives.
- 56% of tech executives plan AI-driven workforce changes within 3 years; 38% of tech workers report team compression.
- Remote workers are 3x more likely to fear skill obsolescence; lower-income workers are 3x more likely to plan career exit due to automation.
Why It Matters
Ghost downsizing may become the norm, silently reshaping work without formal layoffs, widening the perception gap between management and staff.