Tech Layoffs 2026: 30,000 Jobs Cut by Amazon, Salesforce, and 25 Others

The global technology sector has faced a turbulent start to 2026, with nearly 30,000 employee layoffs in the first 40 days of the year.

Data from industry trackers like Layoffs.fyi reveals that at least 27 major companies, led by giants like Amazon and Salesforce, have implemented deep workforce cuts as they pivot toward AI-centric operations and leaner corporate structures.

Major Layoffs at Amazon and Salesforce

Amazon stands at the forefront of this wave, having announced a massive reduction of 16,000 global jobs in late January.

These cuts primarily targeted corporate and technical divisions, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Prime Video, and Human Resources.

This marks Amazon’s most significant reduction since its 14,000-role cut in late 2025.

Similarly, Salesforce quietly eliminated nearly 1,000 positions in early February.

The layoffs impacted teams in marketing, data analytics, and even the “Agentforce” AI division.

CEO Marc Benioff has previously noted that AI agents are increasingly handling support and engineering tasks, allowing the company to “rebalance” its headcount.

A Broad Industry Reset

The downsizing is not limited to a few players.

Meta recently trimmed its workforce by 1,500 personnel, shifting investments from its metaverse projects to wearable technology.

Other notable cuts include:

• ASML: 1,700 jobs in the Netherlands.
• Ericsson: 1,600 roles in Sweden.
• Autodesk: Approximately 1,000 roles.
• Pinterest: 700 jobs following an AI-driven restructuring.
• Workday: 400 positions in non-revenue departments.

The “Agentic” Shift

Analysts describe this trend as “Agentic Displacement,” where companies leverage autonomous AI tools to replace human-led workflows.

While many of these firms are reporting record revenues, they are aggressively trimming management layers to increase “ownership” and speed.

Unlike the pandemic-era cuts driven by over-hiring, the 2026 layoffs signal a structural transformation.

For every ten traditional roles eliminated, companies are opening roughly four new roles specifically in Generative AI, forcing white-collar workers to adapt to a rapidly changing labor market.

Note: We are also on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and YouTube to get the latest news updates. Subscribe to our Channels. WhatsApp– Click Here, YouTube – Click Here, and LinkedIn– Click Here.