Layoffs and AI: stay hard to cut, bounce back if it happens

Stage 1 · Lesson 1 of 7

The numbers since 2022

What AI is really doing to tech jobs

Trackers such as count announced tech layoffs. By their counts, about 266,000 tech workers were laid off in 2023, the peak, then about 153,000 in 2024 and about 123,000 in 2025. In 2026 the total passed the whole of 2025 by September.

Behind those numbers sit large rounds at Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, Salesforce, Dell and many smaller companies, plus Indian IT services firms such as TCS. Two things help keep perspective. Each tracker counts differently, so always name the source of a number.

And layoffs happen while others are hiring: software were rising again in 2026, mostly for experienced roles.

Common trapreading only the layoff totals and concluding the whole industry is shrinking. It is changing shape, and that is what this helps you plan for.

A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 1 cheat sheet entry come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it

Resources for this stage

Also worth your time

Mark this stage as not done?