2025 tech layoffs: the final count and key trends

The tech industry is moving into another year of retrenchment. After a steep reset last year, an independent tracker indicates that there’s been limited movement so far in 2025. Tech has already tallied tens of thousands of cuts in software, hardware, and internet sectors in 2025, including a burst early this year. The headlines obscure a more nuanced reality: companies are winnowing overlapping teams, sharpening their focus on profitability, and placing much of the pressure on AI to automate work once done by people.

What the data shows about the pace and scale of cuts

Layoffs.fyi counted more than 150,000 tech job losses over the last year from hundreds of companies. The pace has held fast this year, although the pattern is different—fewer mass layoffs and more focused reductions in many smaller batches. Tech, let’s not forget, is still one of the more aggressive industries for cutting workers, as Challenger, Gray & Christmas has pointed out.

Across earnings disclosures, state WARN filings, and earnings calls, a common theme emerges: sluggish demand for some categories, efficiency gains related to AI, and tighter capital discipline. Put in plain language, leaders are opting for margins instead of moonshots.

Big Tech and platforms: where the deepest cuts landed

Amazon also went through multiple waves, to the tune of about 100 roles linked to its audio studio, Wondery, as it consolidates podcasts under Audible and reorganizes creator operations. Deeper cuts were made on projects like Alexa, Ring, and other hardware bets as the company streamlined devices and services.

Google has cut across platforms and devices, including those tied to Android, Pixel, and Chrome, The Information reported; further reorganization is in progress that is eroding layers and moving the ratio of product managers to engineers into balance.

Meta cut teams in Reality Labs—which affects VR content and hardware operations—and asked managers to tighten performance standards. Other reports set out more than a thousand roles at risk across engineering and program management as the company consolidates around its AI stack.

ByteDance layoffs hit the Pacific Northwest as it shifts regional focus. Lenovo said it would lay off more than 100 employees in the United States as part of efficiency measures. Cisco reported that it would shed around 9,000 jobs worldwide—or slightly less than 4% of its workforce—as it sought to reset itself for what is likely to be a slower period in corporate spending.

AI, cloud and enterprise software adjust to efficiency

After smaller trims in the Pacific Northwest, Salesforce filed notices for 262 jobs at its San Francisco sites. Executives have been clear: AI is enhancing support deflection and customer self-service, so there will be less need for certain workers.

Atlassian laid off approximately 150 customer-facing roles once upgrades to its support tooling materially reduced inbound volume. The decision was also made at a time when BCA was encouraging the nation to adopt an “armed forces-style AI revolution” in public comments by its staff—a particularly galling contrast for affected staff.

ConsenSys laid off approximately 7% of its staff, or 47 roles, while continuing to selectively hire for MetaMask and developer tooling. Vimeo laid off about 10%, or roughly 70 people, to reduce costs by some $8.5 million while preserving go-to-market spending.

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and other tools, has also cut its headcount by roughly 16% across departments as it re-evaluates portfolio priorities and ramps up AI functionality integrated into its publishing stack.

EVs, chips, and devices face demand and cost pressure

Intel’s Oregon cuts grew into the thousands, well beyond initial disclosures, as the chipmaker restructures fabs and product groups. ABB said it would eliminate around 5,600 positions related to automation and EV charging as it resets its competitiveness.

Rivian made multiple trims, including roughly 200 roles—about 1.5%—and more reductions in manufacturing. The slowdown in electric vehicle sales, fading incentives, and a drive to shift toward less-expensive models are forcing even cash-rich manufacturers like Audi to conserve their resources.

General Motors cut about 200 jobs at Factory Zero in Michigan, blaming the speed of EV demand, not trade actions. Hardware-adjacent giants—from handset suppliers to smart TV teams—have also reduced headcount as budgets shift toward core AI bets.

Startups, media, and gaming adapt amid tighter budgets

Yotpo slashed about 34% and sunset its email and SMS marketing products, instead integrating with Attentive and Omnisend while doubling down on AI-driven merchandising. The move underscores how quickly generative tooling is remapping martech in a time of fast experimentation.

Windsurf, the buzzy AI coding shop acquired by Cognition, cut staff and offered buyouts to those remaining—an acqui-hire finale that suggests IP was the real focus of the deal, not people.

Eigen Labs, a Web3 infrastructure startup, cut 25% of its staff in the aftermath of a wider sector reset.

Media and creator platforms weren’t exempt. As mentioned, Wondery also was impacted by the larger Amazon reorg in terms of headcount. A number of social and creator apps completely shut down after failing to turn engagement into lasting revenue, according to Business Insider and other industry publications.

In gaming, Bloomberg reported on several hundred job cuts at a major publisher associated with Respawn Entertainment.

Why this layoff wave seems different from prior years

Leaders are following a “reallocate, don’t freeze” playbook. Most companies are paring down support, operations, and overlapping product functions, hiring aggressively in AI research, data, and go-to-market for a smaller set of priorities. The net is churn without a net headcount collapse—unless revenues disappoint, in which case more cuts come.

Another change: Automation is finally starting to show up in the numbers. Startups ranging from those that sell software to those with staff-heavy marketplaces point to deflection rates for AI and the efficiency of code generation when making the case for smaller teams. That productivity dividend is real—but it’s coming lopsidedly, with contractors and midlevel roles taking the brunt.

How this layoff list is compiled and kept up to date

This roundup is based on state WARN notices, company filings, and credible news reports from outlets including Layoffs.fyi, Bloomberg, CNBC, The Information, Business Insider, MarketWatch, and The Verge, along with comments from the companies involved. As restructurings persist, anticipate further small, surgical rounds specifically where AI can replace routine work or demand has cooled.