Is 2026 The Year AI Finally Comes For Marketing Jobs?

"More than a third of CMOs plan to cut marketing jobs in the next two years. That's the headline finding from a new Spencer Stuart survey of senior marketing leaders, but the more striking number may be what's happened so far: only 17% have actually made cuts. The gap between intention and action suggests 2026 could be when the axe finally falls."

"According to the report, based on recent interviews the executive search firm conducted with senior marketing leaders, another 54% expect to keep numbers steady while shifting capabilities toward AI adoption. That's 90% of marketing leaders anticipating significant workforce changes. A mere 10% see business as usual. Most organizations, 69%, have kept team sizes stable while shifting talent toward AI initiatives. That's a substantial gap between current reality and stated intentions."

More than a third of CMOs plan to cut marketing jobs in the next two years, while only 17% have implemented cuts so far. Another 54% expect to keep headcounts steady while shifting capabilities toward AI adoption, resulting in 90% of marketing leaders anticipating significant workforce changes and just 10% expecting business as usual. Most organizations (69%) have so far kept team sizes stable while reallocating talent to AI initiatives. Leaders face pressure to produce cost reductions from AI investments, and some anticipate blunt-force headcount reductions to meet expectations. At firms with $20 billion or more in revenue, 47% expect reductions, 32% already cut staff due to AI, and 37% report C-suite expectations for at least 20% cost cuts.

Read at Forbes