Tech Layoffs Reach Record High: Over 81,200 Job Cuts at Snap, Disney, and Meta Raise Concerns About AI's Impact on Industry Employment.

Tech Layoffs Continue to Rise in 2026

More than 81,200 employees have been laid off by 97 tech firms so far in 2026, according to layoffs.fyi, an independent real-time tracker of job losses in the tech and startup sectors across the world. This figure includes Meta's planned downsizing of 10% of its global workforce, or close to 8,000 employees, as reported by Reuters, citing sources.

The total number of layoffs in the whole of 2025 stood at 1,24,201, as per the tracker. However, the current year has seen a significant increase in job cuts, largely driven by restructuring linked to artificial intelligence (AI). Tech firms are increasingly directing funds towards automation and efficiency, leading to trimming of the workforce.

A comparison of job cuts in tech firms between 2025 and 2026 is as follows:

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The impact of these layoffs was also felt in India, where 12,000 employees were reportedly terminated as part of Oracle's restructuring process. Software and SaaS companies have faced the largest number of job cuts, followed by e-commerce firms. Media companies such as The Walt Disney Company and Snap Inc. announced layoffs in quick succession just last week.

Big Tech firms have been at the forefront of these layoffs, with companies such as Meta, Oracle, and Amazon significantly reducing their headcount in 2026. The Walt Disney Company, Epic Games, and Snap have also announced job cuts, citing a pivot towards AI-driven efficiencies.