The global technology industry has witnessed a massive wave of layoffs in the first half of 2026, with more than 156,000 jobs eliminated as companies accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and restructure their operations. If the current trend continues, total job losses could approach 291,000 by the end of the year, surpassing the estimated 245,000 layoffs recorded in 2025. The figures reflect a major shift in how technology companies are redefining their workforce to remain competitive in an increasingly AI-driven market.
According to an analysis by TradingPlatforms, which reviewed data from TrueUp, TechCrunch, and multiple U.S. WARN databases, the United States remains the epicentre of the global layoffs. American tech firms accounted for more than 128,000 job cuts across 152 companies, representing nearly 82 per cent of all global layoffs recorded so far in 2026. The reductions have largely affected businesses in enterprise software, e-commerce, social media, cloud computing, fintech, and IT services as companies continue to streamline operations and reduce costs.
Among the hardest-hit companies, Oracle recorded the highest number of layoffs globally, cutting more than 25,000 jobs as part of an extensive AI-led restructuring programme. Amazon followed with approximately 16,600 job cuts, while Meta eliminated around 10,400 positions through several rounds of workforce reductions. Meta’s layoffs have largely affected its Reality Labs division as the company redirects investments from costly metaverse projects toward artificial intelligence, signalling a broader industry shift in strategic priorities.
Outside the United States, the impact has also been significant, although on a smaller scale. Australia ranked second globally with 4,561 layoffs, driven largely by workforce reductions at WiseTech Global, Atlassian, and Telstra. In Europe, countries including the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, the United Kingdom, and Germany recorded thousands of job losses as semiconductor manufacturers, telecommunications companies, and IT service providers adjusted to changing market conditions. Meanwhile, Israel, India, and Singapore led layoffs across Asia and the Middle East, where automation and AI adoption continue to reshape employment across startups, cybersecurity firms, and digital commerce businesses.
Industry experts believe the current wave of layoffs marks more than a temporary correction following the pandemic-era hiring boom. Instead, it reflects a long-term transformation of the global technology sector as businesses increasingly rely on AI-powered workflows and leaner organisational structures to improve productivity and efficiency. In an April memo to employees, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that while the company would reduce team sizes, it would continue investing heavily in artificial intelligence, highlighting a strategy that is becoming increasingly common across the world’s biggest technology firms.
source: The guardian
