The era of the Great Resignation has come to an end, driven largely by fears that artificial intelligence will replace jobs. Workers are now choosing to stay put rather than risk switching employers, but a new trend of 'super quitters' is emerging—people who are saving aggressively to fund a mid-career pivot away from automation.
The End of the Great Resignation
Data from Statista shows that job-to-job quitters peaked at nearly 450,000 in the second quarter of 2022, during the height of the Great Resignation. However, after the public release of ChatGPT in November 2022, that number fell to just 205,000 by the final quarter of 2025—a drop of more than half. The fear of being replaced by AI has made workers reluctant to leave their current roles, as switching jobs is seen as risky when layoffs may be imminent.
AI's Uncertain Impact
The impact of AI on the workplace remains unclear. In some fields, AI has proven helpful, such as in policing or nursing, where it can reduce administrative burdens. But in tech hubs like Silicon Valley, London, and Cambridge, the threat is real. AI can code faster than humans, and that fear is spreading across all sectors. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently accused some companies of 'AI washing'—blaming unrelated layoffs on the technology—but acknowledged that the situation could worsen.
The Rise of Super Quitters
Despite the general trend of staying put, a new group called 'super quitters' is emerging. These individuals are building wealth now, believing that there is a limited window before AI and robotics fully replace human labor. They are saving aggressively to fund a career change, such as opening a bed and breakfast or retraining in a less AI-vulnerable field. Official figures show that 2.7 million people in the UK have between £50,000 and £100,000 in savings, and a record 15 million Adult ISA accounts were subscribed to in 2023-2024.
Mid-Career Pivots
Former Elle magazine editor Lotte Jeffs recently wrote about returning to university to train as a psychotherapist, part of what she calls 'the great re-education.' While some use AI for retraining, many still prefer human interaction. For those who can save enough, a mid-life career shift may be the best way to beat the bots.
