This tracker follows significant layoffs in the tech and IT industry and the economic, technological and geopolitical factors influencing those layoffs.
In 2025, layoffs shifted from correcting for over hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic to adjusting for macroeconomic pressures and increased AI adoption. Globally, nearly 245,000 tech jobs were cut in 2025, with about 70% of those layoffs stemming from U.S.-headquartered companies. In addition, AI was the cause of nearly 55,000 layoffs in the U.S. in 2025.
On the heels of major headcount reductions by large tech companies including Intel, Microsoft, Amazon and Salesforce in 2025, Meta kicked off 2026 layoffs with a reduction of about 1,500 employees from its Reality Labs division. While Meta says its goal is to redirect investments toward AI research and development, AI is also expected to be a significant cause of layoffs this year. In 2026, 55% of 1,000 U.S. hiring managers surveyed by Resume.org said they expect layoffs, and 44% anticipate that AI will be a top driver of layoffs.
AI isn’t the only concern when it comes to headcount reduction. The 2025 job market was shaken by President Donald Trump’s fluctuating tariff policies, a reduction of a quarter million jobs within the U.S. government and a declining base of workers due to immigration policy. It’s also a challenging time for entry-level workers, as the unemployment rate has risen more for younger workers than for older employees.
InformationWeek will continue to monitor major tech layoffs — and the factors contributing to them — in this tracker, which will be updated regularly. Be sure to check back.
Here’s a look at the biggest tech layoffs so far:
February 2026 Tech Layoffs
February 26: eBay reduces headcount by 6%
E-commerce giant eBay is laying off 800 workers as part of an effort to align resources with the company’s “strategic priorities,” according to MarketWatch and a statement by eBay. Last week, eBay announced plans to acquire consumer-to-consumer (C2C) fashion marketplace Depop for $1.2 billion in cash.
EBay reported a solid Q4, with revenue up 15% to $3 billion, according to Bloomberg. However, this latest round of layoffs comes after a reduction of 1,000 jobs in 2024 (9% of the company’s workforce), and a reduction of 500 employees in 2023 (4% of workforce) as consumer spending slowed after a spike in online shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic.
February 17: Palo Alto Networks’ CyberArk reduces workforce by 13%
After acquiring Israeli identity security company CyberArk earlier this month, Palo Alto Networks has laid off 500 of CyberArk’s 4,000 employees, according to CTech. The outlet said the employees affected by the layoffs are mainly in overlapping roles due to the merger, but no layoffs are planned for the research and development team.
February 11: xAI layoffs affect co-founders
AI company xAI has reduced its workforce during a reorganization initiative, confirmed by founder Elon Musk. While Musk hasn’t divulged the number of employees affected by the layoffs, at least two of the company’s co-founders and eight other engineers were affected by the downsizing, according to TechCrunch. While xAI has now lost half of its original 12 co-founders, Musk said the company plans to hire “aggressively.” The company has more than 1,000 employees.
January 2026 Tech Layoffs
January 29: Dow reduces workforce by 13%
Chemical maker Dow plans to lay off 4,500 employees, about 13% of its 36,000 employees, according to Bloomberg. The layoffs, in addition to the use of AI and automation, are part of an initiative to simplify the company’s operations.
“As we reengineer how work gets done, we are reducing complexity, adopting the best-available technologies, and streamlining our end-to-end processes,” said Jim Fitterling, Dow chair and CEO, in a LinkedIn post.
The company’s initiative to improve productivity and encourage customer growth will result in “at least $2 billion in additional near-term earnings while helping Dow set new competitive standards and improve shareholder returns,” said Fitterling in a statement (PDF download).
The company’s net sales for Q4 2025 were $9.5 billion, down 9% year-over-year.
January 28: Amazon cuts corporate workforce by 5%
Tech giant Amazon plans to reduce its corporate workforce by 16,000 employees. This comes after reductions in October 2025 led to layoffs of 14,000 corporate employees. Together, the layoffs of 30,000 amount to about 10% of Amazon’s corporate workforce.
Beth Galetti, senior vice president of people experience and technology at Amazon, wrote in a blog post that the headcount reduction is part of an effort “to strengthen our organization by reducing layers, increasing ownership, and removing bureaucracy.”
January 28: ASML cuts 4% of workforce
Dutch chip-making equipment manufacturer ASML plans to lay off 1,700 employees, mainly affecting management roles in the company’s IT and tech departments, according to Bloomberg. The company plans to shift these management positions to more engineering roles in an effort to reduce corporate bureaucracy.
Still, the company performed well in 2025 (PDF download) as its chipmaker customers continue to prepare for the rising demand for AI chips and compute. ASML brought in net sales of €32.7 billion ($39 billion USD) and a gross margin of nearly 53%. ASML forecasts net sales to reach €34 billion ($40.6 billion) with a gross margin between 51% and 53% this year.
January 27: Pinterest layoffs impact 15% of workforce
Social media company Pinterest plans to reduce its headcount by as much as 15%, which is about 700 positions, to redirect resources to areas including AI roles and products. A reduction in advertising revenue as retailers compensate for tariff policies has negatively affected Pinterest. In response, the social media site is working toward increasing revenue by investing in AI that will assist Pinterest users in identifying and purchasing pinned products, according to the Wall Street Journal.
January 15: Ericsson reduces workforce in Sweden by 12%
Telecom equipment maker Ericsson plans to lay off 1,600 employees in Sweden, which is about 12% of its workforce in the country. Ericsson’s global headquarters is in Stockholm, Sweden, where much of the company’s R&D activities are conducted.
Between the beginning of 2023 and September 2025, Ericsson has cut over 15,600 full-time jobs, which is about 15% of the company’s international total. Ericsson’s efforts to lower costs are due to a reduction in telecom spending, decreased 5G spending and U.S. tariff policies.
January 12: Meta to cut workforce by 10% in Reality Labs division
Meta will lay off 10% or about 1,500 employees in its Reality Labs division, which includes 15,000 employees and focuses on metaverse development, according to The New York Times. Meta employs a total of 78,000 people.
In 2025, CEO Mark Zuckerberg directed executives to reduce their 2026 budgets as Meta increasingly focuses on AI research, The New York Times reported. Meta is also increasing investment in its wearables division, which includes smart glasses, while reducing investment in virtual reality products.
However, last October, Meta said it would lay off 500 employees in its AI division. Zuckerberg demonstrated frustration that Meta has fallen behind rivals including OpenAI in the AI race. In February 2025, Meta reduced its headcount by 5% based on performance ratings.
January 7: Tessera Therapeutics to lay off 35% of workforce
Massachusetts-based biotech company Tessera Therapeutics announced it will lay off 90 employees, reducing headcount to about 160 people.
In December 2025, Tessera said it would receive a $150 million investment from biotech company Regeneron to jointly develop a treatment for the genetic mutation underlying Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. Tessera is developing an alternative approach to genome engineering through its Gene Writing and delivery platforms. The company was launched in 2018 by life sciences company Flagship Pioneering.
