Tech layoffs top 60,000

More than 71,000 tech workers have been laid off across 80 companies so far in 2026, according to the live tracker Layoffs.fyi. (layoffs.fyi) That is already above the 60,000-plus figure cited in reports published on April 13, and the cuts are still coming in mid-April rather than at quarter’s end. North Penn Now said the tally had already passed 60,000 based on layoff announcements, Securities and Exchange Commission filings, and company statements. (northpennnow.com) The companies named in those reports are not tiny startups. North Penn Now said Amazon had cut 16,000 corporate jobs this year, Block had eliminated 4,000 roles, Meta had trimmed 1,500 jobs in Reality Labs, and Oracle was considering cuts of up to 30,000. (northpennnow.com) Reuters reported on March 14 that Meta was planning layoffs that could affect 20% or more of its workforce, though Meta spokesperson Andy Stone called that “speculative reporting about theoretical approaches.” Meta said in its latest filing that it had nearly 79,000 employees as of December 31. (cnbc.com) Reuters also reported on March 31 that Oracle was laying off thousands of employees, and Oracle later said it would cut 491 workers in Washington state and Seattle effective June 1. (msn.com) What has changed is the explanation executives are giving. North Penn Now said companies are describing the cuts as restructuring around artificial intelligence and automation, not just correcting for pandemic-era overhiring. (northpennnow.com) That framing has been building for more than a year. Reuters reported in January 2024 that SAP unveiled a 2 billion euro restructuring plan covering 8,000 roles as it shifted toward artificial intelligence-driven business areas, while saying it expected to finish 2024 with a headcount similar to current levels through retraining and voluntary exits. (business.inquirer.net) Companies are also telling workers that artificial intelligence will change entry-level work rather than erase it outright. SAP said on April 8 that 88% of chief human resources officers in its Wakefield survey said artificial intelligence is making early-career talent productive faster, while 87% said new hires are expected to be comfortable with artificial intelligence on day one or learn it immediately. (news.sap.com) The result is a labor market where hiring and cutting can happen at the same time. Layoffs.fyi’s tracker shows the 2026 total still far below the first-quarter bloodletting of 2023, but the current pace has already overtaken the 60,000 mark before April is half over. (layoffs.fyi)