The landscape of the technology sector continues to be shaped by significant workforce adjustments, with layoffs extending from established giants to emerging startups, highlighting an ongoing period of economic recalibration and strategic restructuring.

Amazon And Intel Shed Yet More Workers As Aerospace, Alt Protein, And Even AI Startups Call It Quits

The past week has seen a persistent wave of job cuts across the technology industry, underscoring the sustained economic pressures and strategic shifts companies are navigating. While the full extent of the workforce reductions remains fluid, at least half a dozen tech employers have reported significant job cuts or outright shutdowns, impacting hundreds of workers. This trend indicates that the period of belt-tightening and efficiency drives that characterized 2023 and 2024 is far from over, with 2025 continuing to witness substantial changes.

Among the companies consistently featured in layoff reports, Amazon and Intel have once again made headlines with further workforce reductions. In the past few weeks, e-commerce and cloud computing behemoth Amazon shed 84 workers, while semiconductor giant Intel laid off 59 employees.

According to a detailed report from GeekWire, the recent Amazon layoffs are distinct from the broader global cutbacks of 14,000 workers announced earlier. These more recent reductions, scheduled to take effect in February, will specifically impact employees across Amazon’s Seattle and Bellevue locations, as well as a small number of Washington-based remote workers. This targeted approach suggests ongoing optimization within specific divisions or projects, even as the company manages its overall growth trajectory and operational efficiency. Amazon’s continuous adjustments reflect its vast and diverse operations, where different segments experience varying demands and strategic priorities.

Meanwhile, Intel, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, reportedly executed another round of job cuts back in November. This wave saw 45 positions eliminated from its corporate headquarters, alongside an additional 14 employees from its Bowers Avenue office and Juliette Lane facility. These cuts are part of Intel’s broader efforts to streamline operations, reduce costs, and reposition itself competitively in a challenging global semiconductor market. The company has been grappling with slowing PC sales, increased competition, and significant investments in new manufacturing technologies, necessitating a leaner operational structure.

Beyond these corporate giants, the latter part of 2025 has also brought the unfortunate news of several startup shutdowns, signaling the harsh realities of the current funding environment and market demands.

First on this somber list is Seattle-based Outbound Aerospace. Citing an acute lack of funding, Jake Armenta, co-founder and CTO, informed GeekWire that the company’s strategic pivot from developing "big aircraft" to focusing on military drones ultimately led to the withdrawal of its initial investors. This fundamental shift in direction alienated early backers who had funded the startup’s initial vision, resulting in an inability to secure follow-on capital. Consequently, Outbound Aerospace is implementing a complete shutdown, laying off 100% of its staff, a stark reminder of the volatile nature of venture-backed ventures.

Even the seemingly invincible artificial intelligence sector is not immune to these pressures. Berlin-based EyeEm, an AI image sharing company, has announced an upcoming total shutdown. EyeEm, which was acquired out of bankruptcy by Spain’s Freepik in 2023, has scheduled its final closure for mid-January. While primarily based in Germany, the company also had an undisclosed number of workers in New York, who will now be affected. This closure, despite the fervent investment and excitement surrounding AI, highlights that even innovative companies in hot sectors must demonstrate viable business models and achieve sustained profitability or risk succumbing to operational challenges.

The alternative protein sector also rejoined the tally this week with the abrupt shutdown of Jerusalem-based Believer Meats. A report indicates that the company is embroiled in a lawsuit concerning payment for the construction of its production facility in North Carolina. This legal and financial entanglement has forced the company into a desperate search for a buyer, as it navigates severe liquidity issues. The exact number of U.S. workers impacted by this closure remains unclear, but the situation underscores the significant capital requirements and operational complexities faced by companies attempting to scale in the nascent alt-protein industry.

New additions

The following companies were added to the tracker this week, reflecting the continuous evolution of the layoff landscape: [As per the original content, this list is empty. In a real-world scenario, this would be populated with new companies reporting layoffs.]

Tech Layoffs: US Companies That Cut Jobs In 2022, 2023, 2024 And 2025

By the numbers

The data collected by Crunchbase News paints a clear picture of persistent workforce adjustments across the U.S. tech sector:

Layoffs during the week ended Dec. 17, 2025: At least 251 U.S. tech sector employees were either laid off or scheduled for layoffs, indicating that weekly job cuts, though perhaps smaller in individual company size, remain a constant feature of the industry.

In 2025 (Year-to-date): Around 126,352 workers have been let go from U.S.-based tech companies so far, according to our ongoing tally. This substantial figure suggests that 2025 is following a similar trajectory to previous years, with companies continuing to optimize their workforces in response to market conditions, technological shifts, and investor expectations. The cumulative effect of these layoffs is reshaping the talent landscape across various tech hubs.

In 2024: At least 95,667 workers at U.S.-based tech companies lost their jobs. While a decrease from the peak of 2023, this number still represents a significant volume of job displacement, indicating that the industry was far from stabilizing. Many companies that had undertaken initial cuts in 2023 continued with further rounds in 2024, or new companies joined the list as economic headwinds persisted.

In 2023: More than 191,000 workers in U.S.-based tech companies (or tech companies with a large U.S. workforce) were laid off in mass job cuts. This year marked the apex of the recent layoff wave, driven by a confluence of factors including over-hiring during the pandemic boom, rising interest rates, slowing consumer spending, and a tightening venture capital market. The sheer scale of layoffs in 2023 sent ripples throughout the global tech ecosystem.

In 2022: More than 93,000 jobs were slashed from public and private tech companies in the U.S. This marked the beginning of the current layoff cycle, signaling a significant market correction after years of rapid expansion. Companies began to unwind their pandemic-era hiring sprees and prepare for a more challenging economic environment.

Companies with the biggest workforce reductions so far in 2025

[As per the original content, this list is empty. In a real-world scenario, this would be populated with companies like Amazon, Intel, Salesforce, Google, etc., if their cumulative 2025 layoffs were significant enough to lead the list.]

Methodology

This comprehensive tracker meticulously documents layoffs conducted by U.S.-based companies or those with a demonstrably strong U.S. presence, ensuring a focused and relevant analysis of the American tech job market. The data is diligently updated at least bi-weekly, often more frequently, to capture the dynamic nature of the industry. Our scope includes both burgeoning startups and established, publicly traded tech-heavy corporations. Furthermore, we incorporate companies based internationally that maintain a sizable operational team within the United States, such as Klarna, even when the precise impact on their U.S. workforce from global layoffs is not fully itemized.

Layoff and workforce figures presented are carefully derived best estimates, compiled from a diverse array of reliable sources. We triangulate information from media reports, our own in-depth reporting, publicly available social media posts, and the crowdsourced database layoffs.fyi. This multi-source approach enhances the accuracy and comprehensiveness of our data.

We have recently implemented an update to our layoffs tracker to more precisely reflect the most recent round of layoffs each company has conducted. This enhancement allows us to track layoff trends with greater agility and accuracy, which may lead to some adjustments in our reported numbers as we refine our data.

If an employee headcount cannot be confirmed to our stringent standards of verification, we transparently note it as "unclear," maintaining the integrity and reliability of our reporting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a layoff?

A layoff fundamentally refers to the termination of an employee’s contract, typically initiated by the employer. It can manifest as either a permanent cessation of employment – often driven by cost-saving measures, restructuring, or a lack of business demand – or a temporary suspension, where an employee is furloughed due to insufficient work to justify a full workforce. In the context of the tech industry, layoffs generally fall into the permanent category, reflecting strategic decisions to streamline operations or adjust to market realities rather than temporary lulls. A "mass layoff" denotes a significant reduction in a company’s workforce within a short timeframe, frequently triggered by broader economic downturns, industry-specific challenges, or a company’s financial distress.

Why are tech companies doing layoffs?

Tech layoffs, which surged dramatically in 2022 and persisted through 2023 and 2024, are attributed to a multifaceted set of reasons. A primary driver for many companies, particularly those in the e-commerce and cloud sectors, was the unprecedented hiring boom during the COVID-19 pandemic. With stay-at-home mandates fueling a surge in digital demand, many firms significantly expanded their employee headcounts, often doubling them. As daily life normalized, these companies found themselves overstaffed relative to a recalibrated consumer demand.

Large tech employers such as Salesforce and Google parent Alphabet explicitly stated that their post-pandemic layoffs followed several years of aggressive growth and rapid hiring, making their workforces unsustainable in a new economic climate. Beyond overstaffing, these large corporations also cited slowing sales growth, rising operational costs, and mounting fears of a potential recession as critical factors necessitating downsizing.

Concurrently, venture-backed startups faced their own set of challenges. As venture funding experienced a significant contraction after its peak in 2021, many startups cut jobs as a critical strategy to conserve cash reserves and extend their operational runways. The falling valuations of tech companies also played a role, making it harder to raise new capital at favorable terms. Consequently, some startups that depleted their cash and could not secure fresh funding were forced into more drastic measures, including bankruptcy filings or complete shutdowns.

What were the biggest tech layoffs of 2024?

In 2024, Intel Corp. led the charge in workforce reductions among U.S. tech employers, shedding more than 15,000 employees. This substantial cut reflected the semiconductor giant’s ongoing restructuring efforts to navigate a volatile chip market and invest heavily in new fabrication technologies. Electric-car maker Tesla followed closely, cutting over 14,000 roles as it adjusted to slower EV demand and intensified competition. Networking giant Cisco also undertook significant cuts, eliminating more than 10,000 total roles as it pivoted its business strategy towards software and subscriptions.

In 2023, Amazon’s layoffs led the numbers with an estimated 16,000 roles cut across various divisions, including its cloud unit AWS and advertising. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, implemented layoffs totaling about 12,000. Microsoft’s workforce reductions amounted to roughly 10,000 workers, as did Meta’s (Facebook parent) layoffs, reflecting a broad industry-wide effort to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. The decline in venture capital investment since its 2021 peak profoundly impacted venture-backed tech startups, forcing many to conduct layoffs as a direct consequence of falling valuations and a tougher fundraising environment.

Are more tech layoffs coming?

Yes, the consensus among experts suggests that more layoffs are likely to occur in the tech sector. While there are some indications that the sheer volume of layoffs might be tapering compared to the peaks of 2023, analysts and industry observers expect job cuts to persist for the foreseeable future. This continuation is largely due to large tech companies and startups alike continuing to battle various economic headwinds, including inflation, higher interest rates, and a re-evaluation of growth strategies.

Seed and early-stage startups, in particular, are anticipated to continue conducting layoffs as a primary mechanism to extend their cash runways within a particularly challenging venture funding environment. The shift from a "growth at all costs" mentality to one prioritizing profitability and efficiency means that companies are constantly evaluating their staffing needs. Tech layoffs notably began to increase at the start of 2022, ramped up significantly in 2023, saw a slight abatement in 2024, and have continued into 2025, suggesting a prolonged period of market adjustment.

What are signs that a company is planning layoffs?

Several key indicators can suggest that a company is more likely to implement layoffs:

• Hiring freezes: A sudden halt in recruitment activities across multiple departments is a strong signal.
• Budget cuts: Significant reductions in departmental budgets, travel expenses, or employee perks often precede workforce reductions.
• Restructuring announcements: Plans to reorganize teams, consolidate departments, or pivot business strategies can lead to redundancies.
• Poor financial performance: Quarterly reports showing missed revenue targets, declining profits, or negative growth can trigger layoff decisions.
• Changes in leadership: New CEOs or senior executives often initiate strategic reviews that can result in workforce adjustments.
• Public statements: Executives discussing the need for "efficiency," "streamlining operations," or "optimizing costs" may be foreshadowing layoffs.
• Industry trends: If competitors or similar companies in the same sector are announcing layoffs, it can indicate broader market pressures.
• Declining stock price: For public companies, a sustained drop in share value can put pressure on management to cut costs.

When will layoffs stop?

Pinpointing an exact end date for tech layoffs is challenging, given the complex interplay of economic, technological, and market factors. While the peak volume seen in 2023 may not be replicated, the ongoing need for efficiency, strategic realignments, and adaptation to a less exuberant funding environment suggests that layoffs will likely continue to be a feature of the tech landscape for the foreseeable future. The market is constantly re-evaluating, and companies are continually optimizing their structures.

How many recent tech layoffs have there been?

Tech layoffs began to surge during the 2022 market correction, with an estimated 93,000 U.S. tech workers losing their jobs that year. This figure more than doubled in 2023, reaching approximately 191,000 U.S. tech employees laid off, marking the highest point of the recent cycle, according to our Crunchbase Tech Layoffs Tracker. While layoffs abated somewhat in 2024, around 95,000 reported tech layoffs still occurred. As of the week ended Dec. 17, 2025, approximately 126,352 workers have been let go in 2025. It’s important to remember that many companies do not disclose detailed layoff figures, and some companies continue hiring for critical roles even after announcing cuts, leading to a dynamic and sometimes opaque situation.

Is selling the company a good option to avoid layoffs?

Selling a company can be a viable option to avoid immediate layoffs, especially for startups facing severe funding challenges or unsustainable burn rates. An acquisition by a larger, more stable entity can provide the necessary capital, resources, and strategic alignment to save jobs and continue operations, albeit under new ownership and potentially with a revised direction. However, it’s not a guaranteed solution. Acquirers often undertake their own restructuring, which can still lead to redundancies, particularly in overlapping departments. Furthermore, finding a suitable buyer in distress can be difficult, making it a last resort rather than a primary preventative measure.

What jobs are being cut in tech layoffs?

Tech layoffs have impacted a wide spectrum of departments and roles across companies of all sizes. Initially, many layoffs from large tech giants disproportionately affected software engineers, a reflection of the intensive hiring in these roles during the pandemic boom. However, the cuts quickly broadened.

Startups, often operating with leaner engineering teams, have tended to prioritize retaining engineers while implementing layoffs in other departments, such as talent and recruiting (as hiring slows), marketing (as budgets tighten), and various operational and administrative functions.

For instance, Google cut roles across its sales, recruiting, product, and engineering teams. Amazon’s layoffs included jobs within its AWS cloud unit, its social video platform Twitch, and its advertising department. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg explicitly stated that the company’s recruiting department would be among the first to see job cuts, reflecting a company-wide shift in hiring priorities. The diversity of affected roles underscores that current layoffs are often strategic, aimed at optimizing overall business efficiency rather than targeting a single function.

Where can I read recent tech layoff news?

You can follow all of our comprehensive tech layoffs news and in-depth analysis directly on the Crunchbase News platform, where we provide timely updates and insights into the evolving landscape of job cuts.

Where can I see layoffs in the last 24 hours?

While this Crunchbase Tech Layoffs Tracker is not updated precisely every 24 hours, it is meticulously updated at least weekly, and often more frequently, to capture the very latest job cuts affecting U.S. tech employers, ensuring you have access to the most current trends.

Which companies are hiring for open tech jobs?

Despite the pervasive layoff news, many tech companies continue to actively hire for open roles, recognizing the need to fill critical positions and innovate. To identify these opportunities, you can leverage Crunchbase’s "Actively Hiring" filter, which helps users discover companies that are actively seeking new talent. This tool provides valuable insights into organizations that are expanding or strategically reinforcing their teams even amidst broader industry adjustments. You can find all of our job market-related news and resources on the Crunchbase News platform.

Can I cite the Crunchbase Tech Layoffs Tracker?

Yes, you are welcome to cite the Crunchbase Tech Layoffs Tracker. When doing so, please ensure to credit Crunchbase News as the source and include a direct link to this Tech Layoffs Tracker page for reference.