DEAR IDA: The company I’ve worked at for 11 years just announced “restructuring” and a hiring freeze. No one has said the word layoff, but people are whispering, and I’ve seen enough headlines to know the economy is shaky. I’m in my late 30s, my industry is changing fast because of AI, and I don’t feel ready to compete with younger workers who seem to know every new tool overnight. How do I prepare for possible job loss without losing my mind in the meantime? – WAITING FOR THE OTHER SHOE IN MINDEN

DEAR WAITING FOR THE OTHER SHOE IN MINDEN: As I pondered on how best to assist you with your concerns, I could not help but chuckle at the irony that A.I. (Ask Ida) is assisting you with your fears about AI. Rest assured, I am 100% human. Finding the lighter side in all situations is what gets me through my most difficult of days and I have a warped sense of humor.

On that note, did you know that Ai is in the Bible and that the Hebrew translation for “Ai” is ruin? The inhabitants of Ai were Canaanites who were known for their polytheistic religion and practices such as child sacrifice and idolatry. Doesn’t that sound a lot like the AI of our times?

Not knowing what the future holds where AI Is concerned is very intimidating, if not downright scary, but the threats of downsizing and layoffs is nothing new. Technology has been changing by leaps and bounds since the invention of the assembly line.

As someone who has their 30’s in their rear-view mirror, I can tell you that you are likely to face numerous changes in your career. According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their current employer was 3.9 years in January 2024, down from 4.1 years in January 2022 and the lowest since January 2002. For men, median employee tenure was 4.2 years, a decrease from 4.3 years in January 2022. For women, median tenure was 3.6 years, down from the median of 3.8 years in January 2022.

While the young up-and-comers may have an advantage where technology is concerned, they, in general, have a reputation for being lazy and unreliable. According to the website intelligent.com, 1 in 4 hiring managers said in 2025 that recent grads were unprepared for the workforce and that many planned to avoid hiring them. With 11 years under your belt, you likely have a wealth of institutional knowledge and have proven to your company that you are a loyal employee. In uncertain times, employers are least likely to let go of employees on whom they can rely. My recommendation is that you build upon that trust. Go above and beyond what is expected of someone in your position. Look for innovative ways to improve productivity that doesn’t involve AI. Offer to be a mentor to other employees that may be struggling with their duties or assignments or volunteer to be a team lead on projects.

Be proactive and be prepared to pivot. Ask for a meeting with your supervisor and seek guidance for areas where you can improve. Let them know that you value your job and ask for insight on where they think the company is heading in the next few years. Use that information to get a jump start on equipping yourself for those changes. If integrating AI is a part of their master plan, be like Joshua in the Bible and conquer it. If learning AI seems like a bridge too far for you, start researching other job skills or trades that are, at least for now, AI proof. Unfortunately, switching to a more technical skills based career will likely require going back to school so you’ll need to plan for the cost associated with pursuing that career route and how to work the classes into your schedule.