Topline Big Tech Will Lay Off 1M People In 2026. Are You One of Them?
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Nov 16, 2025 A predictive model estimates that big tech could lay off a staggering 1 million people by 2026. Despite strong market performance, companies like Amazon and Meta are cutting jobs, raising questions about efficiency versus overhiring. The impact of AI on job roles is discussed, particularly in engineering and management. The discussion also highlights the shifts in hiring practices, with a focus on senior roles over junior ones. Finally, there's practical advice for safeguarding careers in an increasingly AI-driven landscape.
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Amazon's Massive Workforce Reveals Scale
- AJ guessed Amazon employed 500k but Asad corrected him: Amazon has about 1.5 million employees including distribution staff.
- That scale explains why a single company's cuts (like Amazon) can dramatically shift aggregate layoff numbers.
AI And Overhiring Explain Layoffs
- Big tech layoffs are driven partly by AI-driven productivity and partly by unwinding overhiring, especially in middle management.
- Companies expect remaining employees to produce more per person using AI and automation tools.
Twitter Set A New Firing Precedent
- Elon Musk's Twitter cuts showed companies they can operate with far fewer employees and less fear of public backlash.
- That example reduced CEOs' hesitation to make deep cuts in large organizations.
