Big Company Layoffs in 2025: Trends, Stats & Stories

Maybe you’ve been doomscrolling through angry LinkedIn posts about mass layoffs. Or watched a colleague with decades of experience get the bad news in a two-sentence email. Perhaps you’ve just heard one too many conspiracy theories about robots slowly taking over the world. 

Sure, some headlines are pure rage-bait, but there’s no denying the mix of forces shaping today’s job market. We’re seeing the rise of automation and AI, political shake-ups, post-pandemic ripples, and global economic uncertainty. The question is: are we witnessing a permanent transformation, or just a rough patch?

Let’s unpack the biggest players so we can see the full picture. In this article, we’ll cover:

• Industries that are laying off the most workers.
• Major company layoffs with real employee insights.
• Whether this is the end of the layoffs or just the beginning.  

Have you recently been laid off? Try our free Resume AI Builder to build a customized and ATS-friendly resume to improve your chances of getting back into the job market.

And check out these guides if you’re looking for your next position:

• How to Choose a Career
• What to Do When Unemployed
• I Can’t Find a Job: What to Do When You Can’t Get Hired
• Why Is It So Hard to Find a Job (And What You Can Do About It)

What Companies Are Laying Off Employees?

We’ve all seen the new stories and social media rants, but layoffs aren’t just hitting the tech industry. While technology companies are still front and center, we’re also seeing job cuts in retail, automotive, food service, and the media. 

The exact scale is hard to pin down, but here’s what the 2025 numbers look like from various trackers as of August 12th:

• WARN: Over 209,000 employees laid off across 1,319 companies so far this year (and that’s just the layoffs that meet state reporting rules).
• TrueUp: In tech alone, 132,266 people have lost jobs in 2025 — nearly 600 per day.
• Layoffs.fyi: About 80,945 tech jobs cut and 67,749 government jobs eliminated, with 178,296 total federal departures.

So no, it’s not just your imagination. This year has been another heavy year for layoffs, and it’s hitting a wide mix of industries. Here’s a quick overview:

• Tech companies. This is the most visible group. Companies are restructuring around AI, which often means automating tasks and reducing certain roles.
• Consumer brands & retail. Many companies are reacting to shifting markets, post-pandemic slowdowns, and in some cases pulling out of certain regions entirely.
• Automotive & manufacturing. Nissan is a good example here, cutting jobs due to slumping sales, global competition (especially from EV makers), and trade tariffs.
• Media & publishing. Outlets are trimming staff as advertising revenue changes and competition ramps up, with AI playing a major role in reshaping operations.

But it’s not about one “type” of company. The common threads are market slowdowns, technological shifts, and the need to adapt to changing consumer behavior. The twist is that even companies posting revenue growth are still cutting jobs to make them more “efficient” and competitive long-term.

I spoke with a former Starbucks employee impacted by the layoffs about why they believe companies are cutting back their workforce: 

I think it's the standard cycle of economic downturn. This just happens in tech. Companies grow extremely fast during prosperity and then have to scale back in times of financial constraints. I think AI plays a part in some cases, like Amazon specifically, but I don't think that's as big as some folks think. There are cases where AI is creating new jobs, new specialties.

Dealing with a recent layoff? First, don’t panic. Second, keep reading: How to Survive a Layoff

15+ Big Company Layoffs

This is by no means an exhaustive list of every layoff story (we’d be here all day). I could have easily rattled off basic bullet points of all the companies cutting staff, but I wanted to dig deeper than simple statistics.

Layoffs aren’t just spreadsheets and percentages. They’re people’s careers and livelihoods. And they almost never happen “out of nowhere.” So I went looking at what employees themselves had to say, as well as the reasons companies gave, to paint a clearer picture of what’s going on.

And since I didn’t want you reading a whole novel, I’ve narrowed it down to 16 major companies making big moves in 2025.

Here’s who I’ll be putting under the microscope:

• Microsoft 
• Amazon
• Walmart
• Meta
• Starbucks
• Intel
• Ford
• UPS
• Block
• Wayfair
• Siemens
• Business Insider 
• Indeed & Glassdoor
• HP
• CrowdStrike
• HelloFresh

Let’s dig deeper into why these layoffs are happening and the real stories behind the numbers.

Microsoft

In August, Microsoft laid off 40 Washington-based employees, adding to the 3,160 cuts in the state so far this year. This followed a May announcement saying they were cutting over 6,000 workers, and another 9,000 in July. And shock: these layoffs are happening while the company is spending over $30 billion in just the third quarter on (you guessed it) AI infrastructure.

It’s all seemingly part of a bigger reshaping of the company. On the Official Microsoft Blog, CEO Satya Nadella framed it as a “platform shift” that changes not just products and business models, but the general workplace structure.

Translation: teams are reorganizing, scopes are expanding, and it’s all feeling a little messy. While these moves could help offset the cost of the AI push, they’ve also caused anxiety and frustration among employees, as these Redditors confirm: 

Amazon

CEO Andy Jassy’s cost-cutting streak is still alive, just on a smaller scale than in past years. Since 2022, Amazon’s cut more than 27,000 jobs. This year’s cuts include about 110 employees from its Wondery podcast division, with leadership changes and a broader shake-up. Over at AWS, a quieter set of layoffs hit frontline support, training, certification, and the Worldwide Specialist Organization.

Jassy’s official message was blunt: as generative AI and agents take hold, “we will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today,” while creating a demand for other skills. The company is moving fast to replace certain functions with automation, reflecting a wider trend in tech where AI is already taking over countless jobs. 

There’s also a big push to get employees back to the office, with some reporting they’ve been asked to relocate or resign. I did some digging into this and found that many current and ex-employers claim Amazon is targeting these remote workers in the layoffs.

Walmart

Walmart’s trimming its corporate structure again, this time cutting hundreds of store-support roles. That includes the “market coordinator” position, which helped managers oversee multiple stores. Earlier in the year, they also reduced corporate roles and asked some workers to relocate to Bentonville, Arkansas, or Sunnyvale, California.

In late May, WARN filings revealed two big hits in California: 106 roles cut in San Bruno, and 405 in Sunnyvale — over half of them software engineers. The layoffs also hit engineering directors, product managers, data analysts, designers, and cybersecurity staff. 

The reason for all these layoffs? In a May 21 memo, executives said the goal was to “remove layers and complexity” and speed up decision-making. But others believe they’re simply under pressure to move quickly in a world where digital operations and tech integration keep getting more important and pricey.

And people are noticing. There have been plenty of red flags and warnings on LinkedIn about those applying to the company. 

Meta

Meta’s layoff story started in 2022, when Mark Zuckerberg cut 13% of staff (over 11,000 people) after over-investing in e-commerce during COVID. Fast-forward to 2025, and he’s raising performance expectations, aiming to exit about 5% of current employees. In February alone, Meta showed about 3,600 workers the door.

While some argue this is purely cost-cutting, others see it as a culture shift toward higher performance. Still, even top-rated employees haven’t been immune, fueling speculation that over-hiring and strategic pivots are just as big a factor (if not more) as performance scores.

And many professionals close to Meta share these sentiments. 

Others have called out Meta for disheartening employees under false pretences. 

Starbucks

Starbucks has faced a great deal of well-deserved controversy in recent years, and now it’s brewing some big changes. Unfortunately, that means 1,100 corporate support roles are getting cut, along with several hundred unfilled positions. CEO Brian Niccol says the goal is to simplify, reduce complexity, and get sales growing again after four straight quarters of declines.

They’re also trimming the menu, removing overly elaborate drinks to speed up service, and tightening their return-to-office policy from three days to four. And if employees don’t want to return to those long office commutes? Starbucks has generously offered them a one-time cash payout (basically, come back to the office, or leave). 

I spoke to a former Starbucks employee who claims there are conflicting statements and pure disorganization regarding remote work: 

They say we can't work remotely, but I transitioned my job to cheaper labor in another country. Isn't that remote work? I know people who were hired remotely, but then had to go through an extensive and sometimes invasive process to receive approval to work remotely. I personally know of one person who requested remote approval due to medical reasons. Gave up on the process because of the invasive questions they asked.

Another ex-worker shared anonymously about what’s really going on behind the scenes and the real reasons behind the layoffs: 

To put it bluntly, it's just a disaster. Poor leadership led to poor performance, which led to the need to restructure. It was one of the most disorganized, inefficient companies on the tech side I've ever worked for. The layoffs were also addressing ICs when the biggest issue was the process at the VP+ levels. It’s a company with a lot of drama, and I want to put that behind me.

One former employee also pointed to the good old-fashioned capitalist agenda as a cause for the layoffs:

My opinion is greed. Immediately following lay-offs, there are huge incentives for the board to cut costs. 6 million in bonuses? I know of 3 people who were laid off, then asked to come back under contract at a lower rate because their job was needed. Greed. 

Intel

Intel’s 2025 cuts are among the most aggressive, with about 15% of its workforce, or nearly 24,500 people, by the end of the year. CEO Pat Gelsinger says the company overbuilt factories without securing enough demand and needs to grow capacity “in lock step” with actual milestones. That rethink even includes canceling multi-billion-dollar projects in Germany and Poland. 

Here’s what they had to say about layoffs in their official second-quarter press release:

The restructuring is costing Intel $1.9 billion, and despite the tech boom, revenue growth is sluggish, with PC chip sales falling 3%. So in this case, it seems less about chasing AI and more about pulling back from overextension in manufacturing.

So, who’s been targeted? Here’s what former Intel employees are saying online. 

Current employees also gave some insights into who’s getting the axe.

Ford

Ford’s layoffs this year have been harder to pin down, but multiple employee accounts suggest Ford has cut around 350 connected-vehicle software jobs in the U.S. and Canada. CEO Jim Farley also warned that political shifts, like ending EV subsidies, could put many more jobs at risk.

Beyond staffing, Ford’s financial pressures include $2 billion in expected tariff costs this year, with losses tied to cutting an EV program. It’s a harsh reminder that in the auto industry, policy changes and supply chain costs can hit the payroll as hard as any market trend.

Here’s what one Ford insider shared on Reddit: 

UPS

UPS is in the middle of a major shake-up, cutting about 20,000 operational jobs (4% of its workforce) and closing 73 facilities by mid-2025. The reason? Many fingers are pointing at automation and scaling back its Amazon relationship, which will cause volume to drop by more than 50% by 2026. CEO Carol Tomé said Amazon may be UPS’s largest customer, but not its most profitable.

UPS is also leaning into robotics, with 64% of volume already moving through automated facilities. And yes, this shift could boost profitability long-term, but for now, it means thousands of people are out of work.

This is what retired UPS Vice President, Jose Maria Odriozola Cuende, said about the changes:

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Block

Let me start by saying that Jack Dorsey’s decision to announce layoffs in a totally lowercase-typed email was a choice, like something you’d rush on your morning commute. But grammar aside, the big surprise was the 930+ layoffs, nearly 200 managers reassigned to non-management roles, and the closure of almost 800 open job postings. 

You can read the full email here, but here’s how he explained the layoffs: 

So, why the sudden announcement? Simple: revenue and profit growth have slowed, and Dorsey believes the reorganization should help boost stock value by improving focus and execution.

However, this direct approach hasn’t necessarily translated into reality, with some employees left confused over why they were laid off. 

Wayfair

Back in March, Wayfair announced they were saying goodbye to about 340 tech employees as part of a major reorganization. And this wasn’t just random trimming. Leadership framed it as part of a “modernization” of their tech stack, a shift to the cloud, and a heavier lean on generative AI to improve productivity.

And that wasn’t their first big cut of 2025. In January, they announced an abrupt exit from the German market, which meant roughly 730 jobs were gone — effective immediately. The company admitted it wasn’t an easy decision, but the move reflects a focus on profitable markets and long-term growth.

Laying employees off out of the blue? Apparently, not so uncommon according to this employee:

And here’s another account from an ex-Wayfair employee:

Between AI adoption and market exits, Wayfair’s workforce is clearly being shaped around a more automated, efficiency-driven model — something we’re seeing across many retail and tech companies right now.

Siemens

Siemens is facing its own restructuring challenges, especially in its Digital Industries automation business. Here’s what they announced in a press release back in March: 

They also stated that their EV charging business is slimming down, with about 450 jobs on the chopping block, including half in Germany.

The main culprit? Sluggish demand in key markets like China and Germany, plus stiffer competition. Siemens says this makes a “structural adjustment of capacities” unavoidable. In simpler terms, they’ve got to resize to match a shifting market.

And ex-employees haven’t held back from complaining online. 

The upside is that they’re positioning these cuts as a way to reinvest in growth areas, which might keep the company competitive long-term. But this doesn’t provide much comfort to the thousands of employees who are feeling the impact.

Business Insider

When Business Insider’s CEO Barbara Peng announced that 21% of staff would be let go, she didn’t sugarcoat it — every department would feel it. She tied the move to industry pressures, fierce competition, and, again, the race to integrate AI into operations.

Here’s an extract from the staff note released in late May: 

As you can imagine, many weren’t thrilled by this announcement, especially with Peng’s “all in on AI” line in the same breath as the layoff notice. The Insider Union left this scathing statement in response to the news of layoffs:

BI’s shift mirrors a worrying possibility for my fellow content writers: fewer people doing traditional reporting, with more investment in automation and algorith

Indeed & Glassdoor

Job site giants Indeed and Glassdoor (both owned by Recruit Holdings) are cutting around 1,300 jobs, about 6% of their HR tech workforce. CEO Hisayuki “Deko” Idekoba linked the move directly to AI, saying the company has to move faster, experiment more, and fix what’s broken.

The layoffs will hit research, development, and “people & sustainability” teams in the U.S., though other regions are also affected. Leadership changes are coming too, with Glassdoor’s CEO stepping down in October, and Indeed’s chief people and sustainability officer also leaving.

This is what an ex-employee shared about the recent lay-offs: 

Ironically, the platforms millions of job seekers used to find jobs are themselves navigating the same AI-driven shake-up hitting their users.

HP

HP’s multi-year “Future Now” plan is rolling into its next stretch, meaning more job cuts to meet its goal of eliminating 4,000–6,000 roles by the end of fiscal 2025. The latest reductions are expected to hit factory workers, support staff, HR, and legacy tech engineers.

Why the cuts? It’s largely down to a post-pandemic slump in consumer PC sales, down 7% in Q1 2025 (though commercial PC sales are up). HP is betting on AI-powered devices, even acquiring Humane AI for $116 million earlier this year.

CFO Karen Parkhill says the savings will help offset economic uncertainty while fueling growth in AI products. Here’s what she told investors during an earnings call in February:

These incremental structural savings will be a key lever to help offset macro and geopolitical uncertainties, while also continuing to fuel investments in our key growth areas and AI innovation, all designed to position us well for long-term sustainable growth 

And HP isn't the only company addressing AI head-on. Take a look at this viral Fiverr CEO email and what it says about the overall job market. 

CrowdStrike

Cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike is cutting about 500 roles, or 5% of its workforce, according to a security filing. CEO George Kurtz points to a “market and technology inflection point” where AI is reshaping industries and customer needs.

While revenue grew 25% to $1.06 billion last quarter, the company still posted a net loss for the second quarter in a row. And last year’s infamous botched software update, crashing 8.5 million Windows machines worldwide, certainly didn’t help. For CrowdStrike, the layoffs could be part damage control, part positioning for the next phase of AI-driven security solutions.

That said, some professionals disagree that the layoffs can be pinned on AI.

HelloFresh

HelloFresh’s workforce has been shrinking for a while, with over 1,500 jobs cut since 2024. This year, that included closing a Grand Prairie facility in Texas, eliminating 273 jobs. The move is under legal review by Strauss Borrelli PLLC for possible WARN Act violations, as it’s unclear whether the company gave the required 60-day notice. 

Despite the cuts, HelloFresh says it’s leaning into AI for a “comprehensive product innovation plan,” offering personalized meal recommendations. It’s a pivot toward tech-driven customization in a tough post-pandemic meal-kit market.

A HelloFresh employee also discussed the post-COVID struggles: 

When Will Layoffs End?

If only there were a date circled in red when layoffs would just stop. But there’s no neat finish line here. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 1.6 million layoffs in June 2025, which was almost unchanged from earlier months. And according to The Conference Board, 34% of CEOs expect to cut jobs in the next year, outnumbering the 27% who plan to hire.

We wrote an article back in March about the end of tech layoffs, sharing experts’ predictions that they would slow by mid-2025. June’s record-low 1,606 layoffs felt like that turning point. But the rebound in July with a huge 16,292 cuts proves we’re not out of the woods yet. So, while things have improved compared to the chaos of early 2024, the reality is more of a roller coaster than a steady climb to stability.

But maybe it’s less “when will it end?” and more “why is it happening, and what comes next?”

Automation is the big driver. The Future of Jobs Report 2025 predicts that by 2030, humans will be doing 15% less of the world’s work tasks than today, with 82% of that drop coming from automation alone. And AI leaders like Anthropic’s Dario Amodei warn that half of entry-level white-collar jobs could disappear within five years.

And then there’s the political backdrop. Tariff policies under President Trump have created global uncertainty for many companies. Some have raised prices, but others are cutting jobs to offset expenses, making layoffs not just a tech story, but an economic one.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. The fastest-growing roles are in AI, machine learning, renewable energy, and green tech. So while some jobs are vanishing, new ones are taking shape — and the real skill is adapting fast enough to catch them.

Do you sense that a layoff is coming? Find out more: Alarming Signs You’re Getting Fired

Final Thoughts 

Across industries, from tech to retail, layoffs are being driven by a mix of the same forces: heavy AI investment, automation, corporate restructuring, and political or economic curveballs.

In tech, the obvious culprit is AI. But another common thread is that these moves are strategic, not just reactive. Leaders are betting on leaner, faster organizations, even if it means a disruptive short-term fallout.

The result? A job market in 2025 where the “mega-employer” model is fading. Big names are getting smaller, more agile, and in many cases, more automated. It’s a tough climate for workers, but for those who can pivot to new skills, especially in AI-related fields, there’s opportunity hiding in the disruption.

FAQ

Which employees are most likely to be laid off?

The biggest risk right now is for roles that companies can automate, digitize, or easily outsource. Administrative assistants, executive secretaries, clerical staff, printing workers, and certain accounting and auditing positions are high on the list. In tech, software engineering and IT support jobs are also vulnerable as companies adopt AI-powered tools that can handle tasks once done by large teams. 

Which industry has the most layoffs?

The tech industry still takes the top spot in 2025, with major players, such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, continuing to lay off staff, especially in roles that overlap with AI or cloud automation efforts. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, high levels of layoffs are also happening across manufacturing, retail, private education, hospitality, and health care.

Which Big 4 firms have announced layoffs?

PwC, Deloitte, EY, and KPMG have all made job cuts recently, though the scale and reasons vary. PwC made headlines last September with its first formal layoff round since 2009, cutting about 1,800 roles, mostly in its products and technology operations. 

EY started the year with a smaller round, letting go of roughly 100 consulting employees; about 1% of its U.S. team. KPMG’s cuts came last November, affecting 330 people, or 4% of its U.S. workforce, as the firm dealt with low turnover and slower demand.

Deloitte, which has over 170,000 U.S. employees, confirmed last month that it’s trimming staff in its consulting arm, though it hasn’t said how many. 

Why are tech companies laying off?

There’s no single reason, but a few big themes keep showing up. First, the rush to integrate AI into products and processes has made some roles obsolete almost overnight. Second, there’s an industry-wide push to “do more with less”, with leaner teams, faster decision-making, and lower costs. Third, some companies are dealing with post-pandemic over-hiring and are now scaling back to match slower growth. 

In many cases, jobs lost in one area are being replaced by new ones in AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and data engineering, but the skill sets don’t always match, leaving some workers on the sidelines.

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