Tech layoffs pass 45,000 in 2026, with about 20% tied to AI shifts

In short: Tech companies have cut more than 45,000 jobs in 2026 so far, and about one-fifth of those cuts have been linked to AI and automation.

What's going on

Layoff trackers counted about 45,363 tech layoffs worldwide by mid-March 2026. Reports tied roughly 20% of them, around 9,200 to 9,238 jobs, to AI adoption, automation, and company reorganizations.

Several companies have publicly connected job cuts to using more AI at work. Block said it cut about 4,000 roles so AI could handle more tasks, even though the company was not in financial trouble. Other examples include WiseTech Global, Livspace, eBay, and Pinterest, which pointed to AI-related restructuring in different parts of their businesses.

At the same time, the picture is not simple. Many layoffs are still linked to cost cutting, reorganization, and a pullback after heavy hiring during the pandemic. One earlier U.S. analysis from 2025 found only 4.5% of layoffs were directly blamed on AI, suggesting that companies may sometimes use AI as a headline-friendly explanation for cuts that have multiple causes.

What to watch

If companies keep redesigning teams around AI tools, the biggest impact may fall on entry-level jobs, where tasks are often routine and easier to automate (like using a calculator instead of doing the math by hand). Watch whether companies follow through on promises to retrain workers and whether governments and schools adjust programs to help people move into new roles that are still growing.

Source: NYTimes