Workers are turning to the social media platform for career advice
Employees in the United States are taking career advice from TikTok as widespread layoffs across the country trigger job security concerns among the workforce.
Nearly a quarter of employees (24.5%) in the US have used strategies or tips from TikTok to help them at work at least once, according to a new Careerminds research.
This figure surges to 48.22% for Gen Z respondents, and to 36.29% for Millennial workers.
According to the report, these respondents are taking advice directly from TikTok creators on workplace survival strategies amid economic uncertainty and as layoffs surge in the US.
Some of the most popular TikTok content includes:
- @corporategirlielo's "corporate survival tips you need right now"
- @ida_theresa's "5 behaviours employees adopt when layoffs are coming"
- @cons.journals' "corporate hacks that help you, and the ones that will get you fired"
Some employees are already applying the advice they received from TikTok's popular workplace survival videos, with 46.47% saying they looked for another job "just in case." Others said they:
- Took on extra work to appear indispensable (38.2%)
- Avoided taking PTO or sick days (33.53%)
- Cut personal spending due to fear of job loss (29.41%)
- Increased visibility to leadership (17.06%)
- Delayed asking for a raise or promotion (15.29%)
Layoffs spark widespread job insecurity
Raymond Lee, president of Careerminds, said their findings demonstrate how employees in the US are preparing for instability.
"These findings show that workers across the U.S. are bracing for instability, even if their companies aren't explicitly talking about layoffs," said Lee.
Job cuts in the US surpassed 1.17 million as of November, up by 54% compared to the first 11 months of 2024, according to data from Challenger, Gray, and Christmas.
November alone logged 71,321 job cuts from employers, the data revealed. And while this is down 53% from the 153,074 cuts in October, it remains 24% higher than the 57,727 cuts announced in November last year.
"Layoff plans fell last month, certainly a positive sign. That said, job cuts in November have risen above 70,000 only twice since 2008: in 2022 and in 2008," said Andy Challenger, workplace expert and chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
"It was the trend to announce layoff plans toward the end of the year, to align with most companies' fiscal year-ends. It became unpopular after the Great Recession especially, and best practice dictated layoff plans would occur at times other than the holidays."
What this means for employers
Employees heading to TikTok to look for corporate advice signals a problem in workplace communication, according to Lee.
"Employees shouldn't have to rely on TikTok creators to understand how to protect their jobs," he said.
He stressed that organisations need to address the anxiety from employees before it leads to burnout, turnover, or harmful workplace habits.
"The surge of corporate survival content points to a breakdown in employer communication and a growing culture of fear. Workers need clarity, transparency, and real support, not viral hacks. Companies that fail to address this anxiety risk losing talent, engagement, and trust," Lee said.
