AI Wave Reshapes Global Tech Workforce: Over 1 Lakh Jobs Lost in 2025
The global tech industry is experiencing one of its most significant workforce shifts in recent history, as artificial intelligence continues to reshape the future of work. More than one lakh employees have been laid off across 218 tech companies in 2025 alone, signaling a new era of automation-driven restructuring.
From Silicon Valley to Bengaluru, leading technology giants are revisiting priorities after years of pandemic-era expansion. The focus is now shifting toward efficiency, sustainable profitability, and accelerated AI adoption — and traditional roles are increasingly being replaced.
Intel led this year’s layoffs with a massive 24,000-employee reduction, nearly 22% of its global workforce. The move spans facilities in the U.S., Germany, Costa Rica, and Poland as the company works to strengthen its position against rivals like Nvidia and AMD. Intel stated that the restructuring will help refocus resources on semiconductor and AI innovations.
Amazon followed closely, cutting approximately 14,000 corporate jobs across various departments. CEO Andy Jassy emphasized running Amazon with the agility of a startup while steering investment toward AI-powered capabilities. Microsoft also made significant staff reductions — around 9,000 people — primarily in product and software roles, as it doubles down on advanced AI tools and cloud platforms.
Google and Meta streamlined their teams as well, consolidating work across Android, hardware, and AI units to reduce duplication and control operating costs. Oracle implemented similar reductions while intensifying its push into AI-enabled cloud services.
India is also witnessing the impact. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the country’s largest IT services exporter, registered its steepest quarterly decline in workforce numbers, cutting around 20,000 jobs between July and September 2025. The company cited AI-driven transformation and increasing skill-gaps as major contributing factors — marking its first notable workforce contraction since 2022.
As businesses evolve to keep pace with rapid technological advancements, workers across the globe are confronting a changing employment landscape. While AI promises efficiency and innovation, the human cost of this transition remains deeply felt — reminding us that behind every number, there are real lives, families, and futures adapting to a new digital world. The journey ahead demands upskilling, resilience, and collective support as the global workforce enters a transformative chapter.