I don't think the strict work-in-office policy has much to do with layoffs. In my honest opinion, I feel it is less expensive for companies to have workers work from home than in the office. I feel ts about the profit. Maybe working from home is not as efficient as working in the office. I have seen reports that said working in the office makes you more productive than working from home. I know this may not be true for everybody but in the grand scheme, it may be true.
You have to run your business. I recommend business in the food industry and also hairstyling. Doesn't matter what we invent, we want to eat delicious foods. Small supermarkets, and small restaurants, are very profitable businesses locally.
I also recommend hair salons. At the moment there isn't any AI that can cut your hair. Being a barber or having a hair salon business is a safe bet in 21st century to my min.
This is one of those things that is not so practical. Not everybody can have a business. Some people will have skills and degrees where they need jobs, some will want to pursue careers. Even if everybody can have a business, not everybody can go into a food business or hair salon business. People who have those skills are people who can have those kinds of business and even at that, not every one of them will have the resources to run their own business.