Tech layoffs: Microsoft, IBM, Intel continue to cut jobs, over 1 lakh jobs slashed in 2025

India Today

21 hours ago

In what is shaping up to be another brutal year for the tech sector, more than 100,000 jobs have been slashed globally in 2025. Leading technology companies like Intel, Meta, and Google are continuing to trim their workforce as they grapple with economic pressures, restructuring efforts, and shifting priorities in the AI era. Microsoft is the latest to announce a fresh round of layoffs, with 9,100 employees set to lose their jobs, primarily in the Xbox and gaming units. Let's take a look at some of the major tech layoffs announced in 2025 so far.advertisementMicrosoft hits hard across gaming and cloudMicrosoft has announced one of its largest job cuts this year, laying off 9,100 employees – nearly 4 per cent of its workforce. The layoffs hit its Xbox and gaming divisions especially hard. Xbox head Phil Spencer said the company is "ending or decreasing work in certain areas" to focus on strategic growth. Bloomberg also reported that King, the studio behind Candy Crush, will cut about 200 roles.Microsoft has already laid off over 6,000 workers this year, following a reduction of 305 positions in June and earlier performance-based cuts. A Business Insider report highlighted that these terminations included immediate revocation of system access and no healthcare continuation. Some employees also claimed they received no severance pay.
The wave of layoffs builds on last year's job losses at Microsoft, which included 1,900 Activision Blizzard staff, cuts to the Azure cloud and HoloLens teams, and hundreds more at Xbox in September 2024.Intel axes chip teams, 20 per cent cuts comingadvertisementIntel is also undergoing a massive restructuring under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan. In July, 107 employees at its Santa Clara headquarters will lose their jobs. The company is also shutting down its automotive chip unit in Germany, laying off nearly the entire team.Further layoffs, potentially affecting 20 per cent of Intel's global workforce, are planned in mid-July. These include senior engineers working on chip design, cloud architecture, and even executive roles. Internal memos suggest its chip manufacturing staff will be hit the hardest.Tan has defended the move as part of a broader strategy to eliminate bloated team structures and shift to lean, efficient operations. He said Intel must stop tying leadership success to large headcounts and start empowering smaller, more focused teams.Amazon has done four rounds of layoffs in 2025Amazon, last month, announced that it is cutting jobs in the very division where it began -- its Books business. The lay-offs will impact employees across Kindle and Goodreads teams. While fewer than 100 workers were affected, the decision is part of a much wider trend of staggered job cuts at the tech giant. A spokesperson told Reuters that the move was part of Amazon's efforts to 'make our teams and programs operate more efficiently, and to better align with our business roadmap.' But the Books division isn't the only one being hit. In the last few months, Amazon has cut roles across multiple teams including its devices and services group, the Wondery podcast arm, and its communications unit.advertisementThis marks the fourth round of layoffs at Amazon in 2025 alone. And the cuts may get deeper. According to Financial Express, Amazon is planning to reduce around 14,000 managerial roles globally, or nearly 13 percent of its leadership staff, as part of an ongoing cost-cutting plan. Once complete, the total number of managers at the company could drop to just under 92,000.IBM laid off thousands of employees this yearIBM has reportedly let go of around 8,000 employees, with most of the layoffs said to be concentrated in the company's Human Resources department. The move follows an internal shift towards automation, with AI now handling many of the tasks that were previously done by people.Just earlier this month, IBM is said to have replaced 200 HR roles with AI systems capable of performing routine functions – like managing internal paperwork, responding to employee questions, or sorting information. These tools are built to take over repetitive work that doesn't require human discretion. As IBM expands its use of AI, the impact on jobs appears to be growing rapidly.advertisementInfosys cuts 240 jobsInfosys has reportedly let go of 240 entry-level employees after they were unable to clear the company's internal assessments. This marks the second such layoff in recent months. Back in February 2025, over 300 freshers were let go under similar circumstances. Those impacted in the latest round were hired as System Engineers (SE) and Digital Specialist Engineers (DSE). Many had been waiting for more than two years after receiving their offer letters during the pandemic and were finally onboarded in late 2024.Google trims product teamsGoogle, too, has joined the list of tech firms cutting jobs. Hundreds of roles have been eliminated in its Platforms and Devices division, which oversees Android, Pixel, and Chrome. This follows a round of layoffs in its Cloud and HR units earlier in the year.A Google spokesperson told The Information that these changes are part of a broader effort to streamline operations after team mergers. The company has also offered voluntary exit programmes and pushed for a more agile structure across product areas.advertisementMeta, meanwhile, kicked off the year with a 5 per cent workforce reduction – cutting around 3,600 staff identified as 'low performers' – even as it ramped up hiring for AI-related roles. Meta also laid off over 100 people from its Reality Labs division, which works on VR and wearables.Other companies join the downsizing trendTech layoffs in 2025 haven't been limited to the big players. Companies across the board have resorted to staff cuts to save costs and adjust to the changing landscape.Automattic, which runs WordPress, laid off 16 per cent of its staff, affecting around 270 people.TikTok cut 300 roles in its Dublin office, or 10 per cent of its workforce there.Ola Electric laid off over 1,000 workers in its second round of cuts in five months.HP eliminated 2,000 jobs under its 'Future Now' restructuring push.Salesforce also cut more than 1,000 employees, while continuing to hire in AI.Blue Origin let go of more than 1,000 workers, primarily in engineering.Canva laid off 10–12 technical writers as it leaned into AI-generated content.Electronic Arts reportedly cut up to 400 roles, including 100 at Respawn Entertainment.Siemens slashed 5,600 jobs, largely from its automation and EV charging units.Match Group reduced its staff by 13 per cent as part of a reorganisation.CrowdStrike cut 5 per cent of its global workforce, citing strategic realignment.Why are tech layoffs still rising?While the industry saw a wave of layoffs in 2023 and 2024, the trend has shown no signs of slowing in 2025. The reasons vary: AI-driven restructuring, high inflation, weak consumer demand, rising interest rates, and reduced spending from businesses have all forced companies to rethink their strategies and tighten budgets. However, while thousands are being laid off, companies are also hiring – just for different roles. AI-related positions continue to grow, as firms restructure around automation, machine learning, and cost efficiency.- Ends