Key Data Point: As of March 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 178,000 layoffs in the information sector, based on the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.
Tech Layoffs in 2026: A Worsening Trend?
The recent surge in tech layoffs shows no signs of slowing down. Prediction market Kalshi gives a 92% probability that tech layoffs in 2026 will exceed the 447,000 layoffs recorded in 2025. Polymarket traders assign similarly high odds—87%—that more layoffs occur in 2026 than the previous year.
Major Companies Drive the Cuts
Coinbase announced a 14% workforce reduction on Tuesday morning, citing artificial intelligence and a decline in cryptocurrency prices over the prior six months. This follows a pattern of AI-driven restructuring across the sector.
Block attributed layoffs of nearly half its workers in February directly to the adoption of artificial intelligence.
Meta Platforms, the owner of Instagram and WhatsApp, cut 10% of its workforce (about 8,000 workers) in April, coinciding with increased investment in AI tools.
Amazon laid off 16,000 corporate workers in January, describing the move as part of a broader anti-bureaucracy initiative.
The Broader Employment Picture
Total employment in the information sector has declined sharply. From a post-pandemic peak of over 3.1 million, employment fell to just under 2.8 million in March 2026—representing a loss of approximately 300,000 jobs.
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