The year 2026 has seen major workforce reductions across the technology sector, with companies restructuring operations to prioritise artificial intelligence, automation, and cost efficiency. Several large firms have announced layoffs affecting thousands of employees globally, reflecting a broader shift in strategy rather than a slowdown in business activity.
Tech layoffs in 2026 show a shift toward AI investment, with companies like Oracle, Amazon, and Atlassian cutting thousands of roles to reallocate resources toward infrastructure, automation, and enterprise-focused growth.
Oracle: 30,000 jobs
Oracle has reported the largest layoffs so far this year, with estimates suggesting up to 30,000 roles impacted globally. A significant portion of these cuts — around 12,000 — are linked to India operations.
The layoffs began around the end of March and early April, with termination emails sent to employees in early hours. The move is aimed at freeing up capital, reportedly between $8 billion and $10 billion, to support expansion in AI data centres and cloud infrastructure.
Amazon: 16000 jobs
Amazon cut approximately 16,000 corporate and technical roles in January 2026. The layoffs affected multiple divisions, including AWS.
The company’s focus has been on reducing management layers and operational complexity while reallocating resources toward long-term priorities such as AI and cloud services.
Atlassian: 1600 jobs
Atlassian announced layoffs of around 1,600 employees in March 2026, representing roughly 10% of its workforce.
The restructuring is aimed at directing more investment into AI capabilities, product development, and enterprise sales, indicating a shift in product strategy.
ASML: 1700 jobs
Semiconductor equipment maker ASML reduced about 1,700 roles in early 2026, mainly across management and IT functions in the Netherlands and the US. The cuts are part of internal restructuring to focus on core innovation areas.
Ericsson: Approx 1900 jobs
Telecom company Ericsson announced plans to cut around 1,600 to 1,900 jobs, primarily in Sweden. The move is linked to cost optimisation and improving competitiveness in a challenging telecom market.