• Microsoft: In May (~6,000 - ~3% of workers) and July (~9,100 jobs, the focus of which was on Xbox and game development divisions), the company announced layoffs. Agencies refer to transition to AI and the leaner operation.
  
• Intel: In cost-saving measures, it will impose a return to the office by September as well as rail away 24,000 employees (15 percent of the workforce) and reduce its European facility.
  
• Meta (Facebook/Instagram): Disband approximately 3,600 workers (approximately 5 percent of the workforce) focusing on poor-performance jobs in the first half of 2025 and even substantial restructuring in the future.
  
• CrowdStrike: Cut 500 of its employees (5 percent of the company) but proceeds to hire in essential and customer-facing positions in AI and security.
  Workday: Cut approximately 1,750 positions (8.5%) as it diverts its talent to the development of AI, and at least 12 weeks of severance will be available to those affected employees.
• Sprinklr: Fired 500 workers (15 percent of the staff) and, instead, selectively recruited in areas of strategic business like those involving AI-enhanced CX platforms.
  
• HP: Another 6,000 jobs eliminated by October as part of its three-year plan under its banner as Future Now, in a bid to cut down $1.4 billion through reduction of legacies.
  
• Many other companies like Amazon, Salesforce, stripe, Automattic, match group, blue origin, Porsche and IBM performed firing of reductions and freeze on automation or strategic reorganization.
  
  

Indian IT Giants: Cost Cutting & Hiring Freeze

• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): Number one IT layoff in India- ~12,000 jobs (~2% of total global manpower). Hikes and hiring of seniors at offices across the globe are frozen. Performance and cost-induced movement.
  
• Infosys chose another path by reskilling and recruiting ~20,000 freshers rather than downsizing its current workforce.
  

Other Industries Under Transformation

• Procter & Gamble: In the process of restructuring across its global operations, it had planned to retrench about 7000 employees (15 percent of the non-manufacturing segment of its Workforce).
  
• BP and Chevron: Retrenching thousands of staffers due to cost based restructuring in 12-24 months- BP has targeted to cut ~ 7,700 international positions and Chevron is aiming up to ~9,000 by 2026.
  
• Canadian Tire: Has time recently reduced its staff at the corporate level as part of modernizing, but not at the retail stores.
  

Why Are These Layoffs Happening Now?

• AI Automation: Most firms believe AI can replace repetitive, administrative and mid-tier roles, optimizing cost and efficiency.
  
• Economic Slowdown: Rising inflation, decreased consumer spending, and global uncertainty have forced downsizing and restructuring across industries.
  
• Strategic Refocus: Companies are cutting underperforming roles and business units to focus investment on AI, cloud, automation, and future-ready domains.
  
  

Despite job reductions, many companies are simultaneously hiring critical AI, cloud, and engineering talent to remain competitive.

At a Glance: Key Company Moves

FAQs

Q1. Are tech layoffs still rising in 2025?
Ans- Yes. Over 100,000 tech jobs have been cut globally as of mid-2025, driven mainly by Intel, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, etc.

Q2. Are all those being laid off taking the place of middle management?
Ans- Mostly yes; companies shift to a “diamond-shaped” workforce with fewer mid-tier roles and fewer managers, while keeping engineers and AI talent.

Q3. Are companies still hiring despite layoffs?
Ans- Absolutely—many firms are recruiting for specialized AI, cloud, and data roles even as they reduce headcount elsewhere.

Q4. What have been the reactions of the Indian IT sector?
Ans- TCS made large-scale layoffs and halted hiring of seniors; Infosys responded by reskilling and hiring freshers instead of job cuts.