Unionized staff at Conde Nast—home to prestigious publications such as Vogue and Vanity Fair—engaged in a strike in response to impending layoffs.
As January 2026 approaches, a cacophony of alerts from industry leaders and economists underscores the accelerating disruption wrought by artificial intelligence (AI) across the technology sector on a global scale.
Following a tumultuous year characterized by extensive layoffs, organizations are increasingly reorganizing around automation and efficiency metrics. This shift not only jeopardizes individual positions but also threatens entire categories of employment.
To grasp the magnitude of this transformation, a recent study identifies the significant trends in tech sector layoffs globally throughout 2025.
This report, produced by RationalFX, aggregates layoff statistics from a variety of credible sources, including U.S. WARN notices, TrueUp, TechCrunch, and the Layoffs. fyi tracker.
The report indicates that the global technology sector experienced approximately 244,851 layoffs in 2025. Notably, 69,840 of these roles, roughly 28.5% of the total, were attributed to corporate restructuring and the growing integration of AI.
The largest employment reductions related to AI were registered at Amazon, the preeminent technology firm, which eliminated around 14,000 positions.
Following closely were Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) with 12,000 layoffs, and Accenture, which cut approximately 11,000 jobs, all in connection with AI deployment and organizational realignment.
Despite a relative deceleration in overall tech layoffs compared to 2024—when about 281,000 positions were shed—2025 marks a critical inflection point, as AI emerges as a pivotal factor in workforce reductions throughout the technology landscape.
The following is a breakdown of tech companies that implemented the most layoffs attributable to AI in 2025:
- Amazon – 14,000 layoffs
- TCS – 12,000 layoffs
- Accenture – 11,000 layoffs
- IBM – 9,000 layoffs
- HP – 6,000 layoffs
- Salesforce – 4,000 layoffs
- Duolingo – 2,000 layoffs
- Workday – 1,750 layoffs
- OpenText – 1,600 layoffs
- Autodesk – 1,350 layoffs
Amazon was at the forefront of AI-related job reductions in 2025, cutting roughly 14,000 positions in late October as it intensified the incorporation of AI across its business processes.
Other notable corporations, such as Tata Consultancy Services, implemented significant layoffs as well, shedding 12,000 jobs, while Accenture followed suit with around 11,000 cuts, all tied to broader AI integration efforts.
This trend has persisted into 2026, as Meta has recently revealed plans to eliminate approximately 1,500 roles, pivoting from its long-standing investments in metaverse hardware toward AI-driven products and advanced data solutions.
Moreover, layoffs in the technology sector surged globally in 2025, with at least 244,851 workers facing termination as companies recalibrated following overzealous hiring during the pandemic.
Approximately 69,840 of these cuts were directly linked to AI and automation, underscoring the rapid transition toward AI-centric operational frameworks.
The report further disclosed that the United States remained the epicenter of these layoffs in 2025, accounting for about 170,630 job eliminations—nearly 70% of the worldwide total—as major American tech firms led investments in AI while concurrently trimming their workforces across engineering, support, and corporate divisions.
Looking ahead, the disruption caused by AI is projected to escalate throughout 2026. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cautioned that “most countries and most businesses are ill-equipped” for the swift adoption of AI, with employee apprehensions regarding AI-induced job losses escalating from 28% in 2024 to 40% in 2026.
Investors are increasingly favoring companies that offer structured AI upskilling, suggesting that robust workforce transition strategies may emerge as crucial elements in future capital allocation decisions.
Source link: Digitaljournal.com.
