Middle Management Roles Are Disappearing — Not Just the Jobs

NewsData.io · United States · Aug 5, 2026

Middle managers accounted for nearly a third of all layoffs in 2023, up from 20% five years earlier, and Gartner predicts 20% of organizations will use AI to eliminate more than half of their middle management positions by 2026. Gallup data show the average number of direct reports per manager jumped from 10.9 in 2024 to 12.1 in 2025, signaling that departing managers are not being replaced. For staffing firms, this trend signals sustained pressure on white-collar placement pipelines and a growing candidate pool of displaced mid-career professionals who need to reposition their skills. The analysis recommends that affected workers diversify income streams, translate titles into specific skills, and develop AI fluency to remain competitive.