2 lakh fired, and counting: Intel, Amazon, Microsoft leading tech layoffs in 2025

The technology industry is experiencing a historic wave of layoffs, with reports indicating that more than 202,000 positions have already been eliminated in 2025. If this trend persists, the total number of job losses in the global tech sector could exceed 244,000 by year’s end, as detailed in a recent study by RationalFX, a personal finance and trading education platform. Leading the cuts is Intel, which plans to reduce its workforce from approximately 109,000 employees to 75,000, resulting in a staggering loss of over 30,000 jobs. Amazon and Microsoft are also significant contributors to this trend, with both companies shedding tens of thousands of roles as part of their strategies to streamline operations and cut expenses. In fact, U.S. firms account for nearly 70% of the layoffs observed in the tech industry this year. While the United States is at the forefront of this downsizing wave, India is not immune to the trend. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the largest IT services provider in India, has announced the elimination of 12,000 jobs, bringing the country's total layoffs to over 17,000. Across the globe, Japan's Panasonic has also announced a reduction of 10,000 jobs, representing 4% of its workforce, as part of its strategy to enhance profitability. A notable factor contributing to these layoffs is the increasing reliance on automation and artificial intelligence. For instance, Amazon's Senior Vice President, Beth Galetti, highlighted that the company is eliminating 14,000 roles due to AI-driven operational changes. Similarly, consulting giant Accenture has announced a workforce cut of 11,000, citing AI as a key reason for its restructuring. Despite the scale of these job losses, analyst Alan Cohen from RationalFX believes that AI is not causing widespread job displacement. Instead, he suggests that we are witnessing a reorganization of the workforce, where companies are letting go of positions that can be efficiently managed by automation. "This year's mass layoffs in the tech sector (and beyond) signal a rebalancing of the workforce," said Cohen. "We are not observing a drastic replacement of human employees by AI, but rather a restructuring process where firms are trimming roles that automation can handle more effectively, particularly in administrative and support functions." As companies navigate the changing technological landscape, some are moving rapidly to adapt their operations. Cohen notes that the mantra driving these businesses is 'who adapts the fastest will be the winner.' Here’s a snapshot of the top 10 tech companies with the most layoffs since January 2025: 1. Intel (U.S.) - 33,900 2. Amazon (U.S.) - 19,555 3. Microsoft (U.S.) - 19,215 4. TCS (India) - 12,000 5. Accenture (Ireland) - 11,000 6. Panasonic (Japan) - 10,000 7. IBM (U.S.) - 9,000 8. Salesforce (U.S.) - 5,000 9. STMicro (Switzerland) - 5,000 10. Meta (U.S.) - 4,320