Tech Layoffs in 2025 Exceed Full Year 2024 Total by August
By August of 2025, technology companies have laid off over 126,000 employees, surpassing the total for the entirety of 2024.
Technology companies have laid off a total of 126,305 employees as of August 2025, exceeding the full-year total for 2024. Recent cuts at software giants like Salesforce and LinkedIn, along with cybersecurity firm Rapid7, have contributed to this increase.
Globally, 278 tech firms have eliminated 122,606 positions for highly skilled professionals during 2025. Major drivers of this layoff wave include well-funded companies such as Amazon and Meta, which are simultaneously investing heavily in artificial intelligence while reducing their workforces.
The commercialization of large AI models has significantly impacted the previously vibrant tech job market. Corporate executives can now easily utilize AI models to generate adequately functional code, putting developers and software engineers in a passive position. Many have reportedly chosen to leave the tech industry altogether.
Ironically, AI tools are assisting executives in substantially cutting the very roles that initially fueled the AI boom. This trend has led to widespread skill degradation within the technology sector, with no immediate signs of slowing.