AI and layoffs are forcing Americans to completely reinvent their careers

Douglas Craig’s heart was racing as he helped a family down an outdoor ropes course during a sudden lightning storm. Just weeks earlier, he had finished his training as an instructor at an aerial adventure park in Colorado. It was a far cry from his previous life as a media executive. After being laid off in June 2025, Craig initially searched for new media roles. When none came through, he pivoted. He now works as a ski instructor in the winter and a science camp instructor in the spring. “I didn't feel like I was starting over; I just kind of feel like I was shifting to something that just brought more happiness and joy,” he said. Craig is part of a growing wave of Americans reinventing their careers. The driving forces: a sluggish job market, persistent layoffs, and the rapid rise of AI. With fewer opportunities to climb the corporate ladder, many workers are pivoting to new industries, learning new skills, or starting their own businesses. **Unexpected career shifts** Jon McCarty spent over a year looking for a tech job after his software engineering contract ended in 2022. He now works part-time as a cashier at Home Depot and does handyman work, using skills he learned decades ago as a construction worker. “I started coming to grips with the idea that I will probably never get another software job,” he said. Robin Peppers Daniel, laid off from a management role at Wells Fargo, turned to substitute teaching to earn income. She is also trying to build a web design business with her husband. Kevin Hannegan, laid off from a director role at a publishing company in 2024, pieced together income from DoorDash, odd jobs, and working on the changeover crew at an arena in North Carolina. He was technically employed by the Carolina Hurricanes, which gave him an unexpected thrill when the team won the Stanley Cup in June. After months of unsuccessful job hunting, Hannegan paused his search for full-time work. “I've accepted that part-time opportunities might be the best fit for me,” he said. **Building new skills** For many, reinvention means learning. Tanvi Pisal, a product designer in San Jose, feared AI was coming for her job. When she was laid off last fall, an email confirmed the cuts were tied to the company's rapid adoption of AI. Pisal spends up to 15 hours a week experimenting with AI tools and attending workshops, even after landing a contract role at a Big Tech company. “I don't want to be in a position a few years from now where I realize the industry moved forward and I didn't make the effort to keep learning alongside it,” she said. **Venturing out on one’s own** Bonnie Chiurazzi turned to entrepreneurship after her job search stalled. She founded a market research firm, Vibe Insights Lab, using her professional expertise. Chiurazzi said the corporate environment had become too stressful, partly because of the constant threat of layoffs. As a business owner, she has more control over outcomes and no longer worries about job security. “I didn't realize how much work it was going to be,” she said. “I went into it really confident, and I came out humbled, but it was worth it.” She added: “It feels like the best time to continue to experiment because I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.”