Tech Industry Faces Continued Layoffs in 2025, Impacting Over 22,000 Workers So Far

The tech layoff wave continues to ripple through the industry in 2025, with more than 22,000 workers losing their jobs so far this year, and a staggering 16,084 job cuts occurring in February alone, according to Layoffs.fyi. This trend reflects broader economic challenges and the sector's ongoing push towards AI and automation, which can lead to operational efficiencies but also human redundancies. May Layoffs CrowdStrike: Laid off about 500 employees, or 5% of its global workforce, as part of a strategic plan to boost efficiency and meet its $10 billion Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) goal. Expedia: Cut 3% of its staff, primarily mid-level positions in product and technology, during a restructuring effort. Cars24: Reduced its workforce by 200 employees in the product and technology divisions to streamline operations. Meta: Let go of over 100 employees in its Reality Labs division, which focuses on VR and wearable technology, to streamline development and operations. Intel: Announced the largest layoffs of the year, cutting more than 21,000 employees, or 20% of its workforce, ahead of its Q1 earnings call. GM: Cut 200 jobs at its Factory Zero facility in Detroit, which produces electric vehicles, amidst a slowdown in the EV market. Zopper: Dismissed around 100 employees, focusing on tech and product teams, to improve efficiency. Turo: Reduced its workforce by 150 jobs following the decision to delay its IPO, citing economic uncertainty. Automattic: Laid off 16% of its staff, impacting more than 270 employees across various departments. Canva: Dismissed 10 to 12 technical writers, nearly a year after encouraging the use of generative AI tools. Block: Cut 931 employees, or 8% of its workforce, as part of a reorganization, though financial reasons and AI replacement were ruled out. Brightcove: Laid off 198 employees, about two-thirds of its U.S. workforce, due to a recent acquisition. Northvolt: Shuttered 2,800 jobs, affecting 62% of its staff, after filing for bankruptcy. Sequoia Capital: Closed its Washington D.C. office and dismissed three full-time employees from its policy team. Siemens: Planned to cut 5,600 jobs globally in its automation and EV charging businesses to enhance competitiveness. HelloFresh: Let go of 273 employees and closed a distribution center in Texas, consolidating to another site. Otorio: Cut 45 employees, more than half of its workforce, after being acquired by Armis. ActiveFence: Reduced 22 employees, or 7% of its workforce, mostly in Israel, to streamline operations. D-ID: Laid off 22 employees, nearly a quarter of its workforce, following a strategic partnership with Microsoft. Zonar Systems: Unconfirmed reports suggest some layoffs, but the exact number is unknown. Wayfair: Planned to cut 340 technology workers as part of its restructuring efforts. HPE: Will cut 2,500 employees, or 5% of its workforce, in response to a 19% drop in its share price. TikTok: Cutting up to 300 jobs in Dublin, or 10% of its Irish workforce. LiveRamp: Laid off 65 employees, or 5% of its workforce, to increase profitability. Ola Electric: Set to lay off over 1,000 employees and contractors as part of cost-cutting measures. Rec Room: Reduced its headcount by 16% to become more efficient and focused. April Layoffs HP: Plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs under its "Future Now" restructuring plan to save $300 million. Intel: Already mentioned as part of the May layoffs. Microsoft: Considering further layoffs, possibly involving middle managers and non-coders, to boost the programmer-to-product-manager ratio. Google: Dismissed hundreds of employees in its platforms and devices division, including Android, Pixel phones, and Chrome. Autodesk: Plans to lay off 1,350 employees, or 9% of its workforce, to reshape its GTM model. Google (again): Planning to cut roles in People Operations and cloud teams to reorganize efficiently. Nautilus: Reduced its headcount by 25 employees, or 16% of its workforce, preparing for the commercial launch of its proteome analysis platform. eBay: Reported to be cutting a few dozen employees in Israel, potentially 10% of its 250-person team. Starbucks: Cut 1,100 jobs, primarily tech workers, and is outsourcing tech work to third parties. Commercetools: Laid off dozens of employees, including about 10% in one day, after missing sales targets. Dayforce: Plans to cut about 5% of its workforce to increase profitability and growth. Expedia: Conducted another round of layoffs for cost-cutting purposes. Skybox Security: Ceased operations and laid off 300 employees after selling its business to Tufin. HerMD: Shut down operations due to ongoing healthcare challenges, though the exact number of layoffs is unknown. Zendesk: Cut 51 jobs in San Francisco, adding to its 2023 layoffs. Vendease: Laid off 120 employees, representing 44% of its staff, following two earlier rounds. Logically: Dismissed dozens of employees to curtail expenses and ensure long-term success. Sophos: Laid off 6% of its workforce, or about 400 employees, shortly after acquiring Secureworks. Zepz: Cutting nearly 200 employees and shutting down operations in Poland and Kenya. Unity: Conducted another round of layoffs, though the exact number is unknown. JustWorks: Laid off nearly 200 employees, citing potential economic risks. Bird: Cut 120 jobs, or about one-third of its workforce, following a rebrand. Sprinklr: Laid off about 500 employees, or 15% of its workforce, after previous rounds affecting 200 employees. Sonos: Reported to have let go of approximately 200 employees, adding to a prior layoff round. Workday: Laid off 1,750 employees, or 8.5% of its workforce, as initially reported by Bloomberg. Okta: Dismissed 180 employees, a year after cutting 400 jobs. Salesforce: Eliminating more than 1,000 jobs, with concurrent hiring for AI product sales. Cushion: Shut down operations, affecting all of its employees. Placer.ai: Laid off 150 employees based in the U.S., or 18% of its total workforce. Amazon: Cut dozens of workers in its communications department. Stripe: Planned to cut 300 people, but expects to grow its headcount by 17%. Textio: Dismissed 15 employees during a restructuring phase. Pocket FM: Cutting 75 employees to ensure long-term stability. Aurora Solar: Planning to cut 58 employees due to macroeconomic challenges. Meta: Already mentioned as part of the May layoffs. Wayfair: Initially cut 730 jobs, or 3% of its workforce, exiting Germany and refocusing on physical retailers. Pandion: Shut down operations, affecting 63 employees, following failed acquisition attempts. Icon: Laid off 114 employees, or 10% of its workforce, to realign its team. Aqua Security: Cutting dozens of employees to reorganize strategically. SolarEdge Technologies: Planned to cut 400 employees globally, marking its fourth round of layoffs since January 2024. Level: Abruptly shut down, affecting all of its employees, due to failed acquisition attempts. Industry Insights and Evaluation The wave of 2025 tech layoffs is a stark indicator of the industry's struggle to adapt to rapid technological shifts and economic pressures. Companies like Intel, Google, and HP are facing significant financial challenges, necessitating large-scale workforce reductions to remain competitive. Industry insiders note that while AI and automation offer new opportunities for efficiency and innovation, they also pose substantial risks to employment stability. The focus on cost-cutting and restructuring suggests a conservative approach to navigating uncertain economic conditions, emphasizing survival over aggressive expansion. This trend is particularly concerning given the industry's reputation for high employee mobility and rapid growth, highlighting the delicate balance between technological advancement and human impact. Startups and established tech firms alike are adopting a leaner operational model to stay relevant and profitable. For instance, Automattic and Stripe are making targeted layoffs while simultaneously planning for future growth. The situation underscores the need for continuous skill development and adaptability among tech professionals. Companies like Microsoft, which is considering further layoffs, and Google, which is reorganizing its teams, are setting a precedent for the rest of the industry, signaling potential deeper structural changes and a reassessment of traditional business models. In conclusion, the tech layoffs of 2025 reflect a complex interplay of economic factors and technological advancements, with both established giants and rising startups trimming their workforces to adapt and survive. While this trend is worrying, it also highlights the resilience and dynamism of the tech sector as it navigates these challenging waters.