The wave of layoffs sweeping the technology industry continues to escalate through 2025, impacting thousands of workers at firms ranging from global giants to ambitious startups. Following a turbulent year in 2024, which saw more than 150,000 jobs eliminated across approximately 550 companies, the trend has not decelerated. This year alone, over 22,000 employees have already lost their positions, with the month of February accounting for a substantial portion of these layoffs at more than 16,000 cuts.
In June, semiconductor heavyweight Intel disclosed plans to reduce its workforce in the Intel Foundry division by 15% to 20% beginning in July. Intel Foundry, responsible for semiconductor design, manufacturing, and packaging services for external clients, constitutes a significant segment of the company. Intel had approximately 108,900 employees globally as of December 2024.
Similarly, Israel-headquartered online gaming firm Playtika announced it would part ways with approximately 90 employees, including 40 in Israel and 50 in Poland. This announcement follows a prior layoff round of 50 employees just weeks earlier. Airtime, a video startup founded in 2020 by Evernote co-founder Phil Libin, confirmed cuts affecting almost half of its 58-person team as it moves to streamline operations.
Microsoft has undergone several rounds of job reductions within weeks of each other. Following the dismissal of more than 6,500 staff in May, representing approximately 3% of its global workforce, the tech giant recently initiated another round of layoffs affecting roles in software engineering, product management, technical program management, marketing, and legal.
May resulted in extensive job losses as well, with San Francisco-based telehealth firm Hims & Hers announcing a 4% headcount reduction, translating to 68 affected employees. The firm emphasized the cuts were unrelated to U.S. regulatory restrictions impacting weight-loss drugs. Amazon reduced its workforce within the devices and services division by roughly 100 employees, primarily impacting Alexa, Echo, Ring, and Zoox projects. The company has eliminated around 27,000 roles since early 2022 as part of cost-cutting measures.
Educational technology firm Chegg announced approximately 248 job cuts, amounting to about 22% of its workforce. The company cited declining interest in traditional EdTech tools due to increasing adoption of AI-based learning alternatives as the reason. Match Group also revealed plans to eliminate around 13% of its workforce as part of a strategic organizational alignment. Cybersecurity leader CrowdStrike confirmed it would lay off 5% of its employees, roughly 500 staff, aiming to streamline operations to reach its $10 billion annual recurring revenue objective.
Fusion-energy startup General Fusion let go about 25% of its employees amid funding challenges, and cybersecurity startup Deep Instinct reduced its team by roughly one-tenth. Moreover, Britain-based climate startup Beam ceased operations entirely, leaving about 200 people unemployed.
In April, Meta shed more than a hundred staff from its virtual reality division Reality Labs, streamlining teams responsible for Quest VR headsets and other VR technologies. NetApp laid off approximately 700 employees, representing around 6% of its workforce. Electronic Arts conducted a substantial trimming by cutting 300 to 400 positions, including about one hundred roles at Respawn Entertainment.
Expedia underwent another workforce reduction round, eliminating about 3% of its employees, following earlier cuts in its global marketing division. Vehicle e-commerce platform Cars24 let go around 200 workers, primarily affecting technology and product teams due to restructuring. General Motors cut approximately 200 roles linked to its Factory Zero EV plant, citing weakening market demand for electric vehicles rather than tariff-related issues.
Startups such as Turo and Gupshup have moved aggressively to reduce costs, with Turo cutting 150 roles after abandoning plans for an IPO. Conversational AI firm Gupshup laid off an additional 200 people following a December reduction that had already affected 300 staff. German logistics tech firm Forto downsized by nearly a third of its personnel, while cloud outsourcing firm Wicresoft stopped China-based activities, releasing approximately 2,000 Chinese workers.
March brought more deep job cuts across industries. Battery maker Northvolt, struggling financially after its bankruptcy filing, lost about 2,800 employees, over 60% of its workforce. Fintech company Block let go of 931 positions, roughly 8% of its total, and Brightcove cut nearly two-thirds of its U.S.-based workforce. Siemens planned to eliminate approximately 5,600 positions worldwide, specifically within electric vehicle charging and automation business units. Meal-delivery service HelloFresh reduced 273 jobs in Texas by closing a distribution facility.
February saw severe cuts in well-known corporations, from HP eliminating up to 2,000 positions under restructuring efforts to Autodesk laying off 1,350 employees—around 9% of its workforce—in an organizational restructuring aimed at shifting market strategy. Food delivery app Grubhub lost 500 roles following its acquisition by Wonder Group. Technology giant Google made personnel adjustments in human resources and cloud business units.
Further February cuts included Starbucks eliminating 1,100 technology roles and aerospace firm Blue Origin laying off more than 1,000 staff—approximately 10% of its workforce. Cruise, General Motors’ autonomous vehicle subsidiary, implemented a massive 50% reduction ahead of planned shutdowns, removing many top executives, including its CEO.
Earlier, to kick off 2025, workplace communications provider Meta culled roughly 5% of its lowest-performing employees, citing increased operational pressure. Stripe laid off approximately 300 jobs even as it indicated plans to expand overall headcount later in the year.
These reductions underscore broader structural shifts within the technology sector, accelerated by extensive adoption of generative artificial intelligence, automation technologies, economic uncertainties, funding constraints, and changing market priorities. This widespread wave of job cuts highlights increasingly cautious attitudes within the tech industry, illustrating how companies adjust operational modes rapidly, often with a heavy human cost.
