The 2025 layoff wave reflects structural shifts, not mere cost-cutting. Companies, particularly in tech, are redirecting capital from headcount to AI infrastructure, automating tasks, and redesigning workflows. Pandemic-era hiring created surplus roles now being flattened. Reskilling alone won’t protect employees; differentiation comes from proving measurable impact. Students and professionals must focus on solving real problems, building domain-specific skill stacks, and demonstrating tangible improvements, as employers prioritise judgment and workflow integration over certificates or interchangeable skills.
