If you’ve been tracking layoffs at major companies, you might think the worst is over. After all, recent headlines show only minor changes in overall headcount at tech giants like Intel, Microsoft, Google and Meta. But a closer look at internal data reveals a far more dramatic story – one that’s reshaping the workforce from the inside out.
It’s not about how many, but who
Forget the headline headcount numbers. According to data from EdgePulse Workforce Intelligence, the real action is happening at the role level. Companies aren’t just trimming fat – they’re performing radical surgery on the very structure of their organisations.
Across tech, consulting, automotive and retail, firms are slashing specific job functions and levels while keeping total employee numbers relatively stable. For shareholders, it’s a win: leaner, more agile organisations. For job seekers and employees, it’s a wake-up call.
The shocking numbers behind the restructuring
Let’s break down some of the most striking changes from 2023–2025:
| Company | Engineering % Drop | Manager % Drop | Senior Staff % Drop | Sales % Drop |
| Intel | -72.87% | -56.41% | -55.56% | -56.25% |
| Accenture | -63.47% | -59.72% | -58.07% | -63.2% |
| Microsoft | -69.14% | -70% | -70.86% | -59.8% |
| Ford | -82.2% | -82.93% | -86.67% | -50% |
| Walmart | -66.67% | -42.11% | -62.16% | -76.79% |
| Amazon | -55.25% | -63.73% | -54.18% | -61.39% |
| Salesforce | -69.23% | -34.62% | -62.26% | -50.56% |
| -62.14% | -67.05% | -59.54% | -47.3% | |
| Meta | -54.31% | -77.5% | -72.73% | -76% |
What does this mean?
Engineering and staff roles: Nearly every company on the list has cut engineering and staff roles by more than 50%. Ford leads the pack with an 82% drop in engineering and a staggering 86.67% drop in senior staff.
Managerial and senior staff: Manager and senior staff roles have been decimated, with Ford, Meta and Microsoft all posting drops of 70% or more in these categories.
Sales and support: Even sales roles, typically seen as essential, have been slashed by over 60% at Walmart and Meta.
Why aren’t headcount numbers falling?
Companies are hiring for new roles while eliminating old ones. The overall number of employees stays flat, but the composition of the workforce changes dramatically. This is the restructuring shareholders love, costs go down, efficiency goes up and the company looks “leaner” without the PR hit of mass layoffs.