The AI Layoff Myth: History Predicts Rising Developer Demand

The 2026 tech layoffs attributed to AI efficiency are actually rooted in post-COVID over-hiring corrections and slowing revenue—not workforce displacement. Historical evidence, from the 150-year-old Jevons paradox to ATM-era employment trends, demonstrates that cheaper productivity tools expand total job demand rather than reduce it. For developers, the lesson is clear: master AI tools and build differentiation through distribution capabilities.