AI-driven layoffs are creating a new class of boomerang employees—companies are realizing they 'pulled the plug too quickly'
Published . Updated .
Some companies are quietly rehiring workers they laid off due to AI, according to a recent report from SHL.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- QQQ Invesco QQQ+0.9% 30d
Invesco QQQ: it holds the big tech and AI names. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- AIQ Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF-0.9% 19d
Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF: it holds the big tech and AI names. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- MSFT Microsoft+7.6% 30d
Microsoft (prepackaged software): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- GOOGL Alphabet-18.8% 30d
Alphabet (computer programming, data processing, etc.): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- AMZN Amazon.com-3.7% 30d
Amazon.com (catalog and mail-order houses): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- META Meta Platforms-6.1% 30d
Meta Platforms (computer programming, data processing, etc.): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QQQ | -1.57% | +0.81% | base | -3.48% | after close | after close | after close |
| AIQ | -1.03% | +1.19% | base | -4.53% | after close | after close | after close |
| MSFT | -1.13% | +0.22% | base | -1.59% | after close | after close | after close |
| GOOGL | +12.93% | +13.06% | base | -1.29% | after close | after close | after close |
| AMZN | +1.73% | +3.85% | base | -1.40% | after close | after close | after close |
| META | +2.84% | -0.70% | base | -1.54% | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
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AI-driven layoffs are creating a new class of boomerang employees—companies are realizing they 'pulled the plug too quickly' CNBC
Source: CNBC
How far Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) has moved since 30 Oct 2026
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global X Fds (AIQ) | that day | -4.53% | final price |
| Global X Fds (AIQ) | three days earlier | +1.19% | final price |
| Global X Fds (AIQ) | five days earlier | -1.03% | final price |
| Amazon Com (AMZN) | that day | -1.40% | final price |
| Amazon Com (AMZN) | three days earlier | +3.85% | final price |
| Amazon Com (AMZN) | five days earlier | +1.73% | final price |
| Alphabet (GOOGL) | that day | -1.29% | final price |
| Alphabet (GOOGL) | three days earlier | +13.06% | final price |
| Alphabet (GOOGL) | five days earlier | +12.93% | final price |
| Meta Platforms (META) | that day | -1.54% | final price |
| Meta Platforms (META) | three days earlier | -0.70% | final price |
| Meta Platforms (META) | five days earlier | +2.84% | final price |
| Microsoft (MSFT) | that day | -1.59% | final price |
| Microsoft (MSFT) | three days earlier | +0.22% | final price |
| Microsoft (MSFT) | five days earlier | -1.13% | final price |
| Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) | that day | -3.48% | final price |
| Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) | three days earlier | +0.81% | final price |
| Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) | five days earlier | -1.57% | final price |
Congressional trades in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Microsoft (MSFT) (held by a spouse), worth $250,001 - $500,000 on 2 Oct 2026. That is 28 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Lisa McClain bought Microsoft (MSFT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 30 Sep 2026. That is 30 days before publication. Filed 12 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael Rulli sold Microsoft (MSFT), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 28 Sep 2026. That is 32 days before publication. Filed 2 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Alphabet (GOOGL), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 14 Sep 2026. That is 46 days before publication. Filed 18 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold Alphabet (GOOGL) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 56 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Thomas H. Kean Jr sold Alphabet (GOOGL), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 27 Aug 2026. That is 64 days before publication. Filed 12 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Amazon Com (AMZN), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 27 Oct 2026. That is 3 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Amazon Com (AMZN) (held by a spouse), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 2 Oct 2026. That is 28 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Amazon Com (AMZN) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 28 Aug 2026. That is 63 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar sold Meta Platforms (META), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Sep 2026. That is 36 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Meta Platforms (META) (held by a dependent child), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 37 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Meta Platforms (META), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 22 Sep 2026. That is 38 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ)
Companies tied to this story
- QQQ Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1
For “AI-driven layoffs are creating a new class of boomerang employees—companies are realizing they 'pulled the plug too quickly',” Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Invesco QQQ: it holds the big tech and AI names. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
- AIQ Global X Fds
In “AI-driven layoffs are creating a new class of boomerang employees—companies are realizing they 'pulled the plug too quickly',” Global X Fds (AIQ) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF: it holds the big tech and AI names. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
- MSFT Microsoft
In “AI-driven layoffs are creating a new class of boomerang employees—companies are realizing they 'pulled the plug too quickly',” Microsoft (MSFT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Microsoft (prepackaged software): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
- GOOGL Alphabet
Alphabet (GOOGL) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 30 Oct 2026 story “AI-driven layoffs are creating a new class of boomerang employees—companies are realizing they 'pulled the plug too quickly'.” Reason on file: Alphabet (computer programming, data processing, etc.): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
- AMZN Amazon Com
Amazon Com (AMZN) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 30 Oct 2026 story “AI-driven layoffs are creating a new class of boomerang employees—companies are realizing they 'pulled the plug too quickly'.” Reason on file: Amazon.com (catalog and mail-order houses): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
- META Meta Platforms
For “AI-driven layoffs are creating a new class of boomerang employees—companies are realizing they 'pulled the plug too quickly',” Meta Platforms (META) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Meta Platforms (computer programming, data processing, etc.): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ)
On 30 Oct 2026, “AI-driven layoffs are creating a new class of boomerang employees—companies are realizing they 'pulled the plug too quickly'” is the story that connects Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) to this story.
The link for Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is this: Invesco QQQ: it holds the big tech and AI names. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
A second company, Global X Fds (AIQ), is listed for a different reason: Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF: it holds the big tech and AI names. Linked by “ai” (AI and big tech) in this story
Price levels for Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ)
AIQ traded between 61.70 and 67.40 across 17 sessions. The latest close on file is 62.94. MSFT traded between 513.71 and 551.08 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 530.39. QQQ traded between 701.18 and 762.84 across 18 sessions. The latest close on file is 715.42.
A simple score for Invesco Qqq Trust, Series 1 (QQQ)
46 out of 100
“AI-driven layoffs are creating a new class of boomerang employees—companies are realizing they 'pulled the plug too quickly'” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 6 linked companies.