Biggest layoffs by tech giants in 2023

2023 saw some of the most significant layoffs by major tech players. The collective layoffs exceeded 2 lakh employees.

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Khushboo Joshi
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The year 2023 unfolded as a challenging period for the tech industry, witnessing significant workforce reductions by major players such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, and others. The collective layoffs exceeded 2 lakh employees, attributed to economic slowdowns, strategic restructuring, and various other factors.

The distress in the tech sector began towards the end of 2022, as companies like Amazon, Twitter, Meta, and startups-initiated layoffs affecting 202,000 employees. The challenges continued into 2023, with Silicon Valley experiencing substantial job cuts, setting the stage for a tumultuous year.

Major tech giants and their workforce reductions:

Amazon: Over 20,000 layoffs

Amazon, a tech and e-commerce giant, faced considerable layoffs in 2023. Initially announcing 10,000 job cuts, the company later confirmed a total of 18,000 layoffs in January. Throughout the year, Amazon conducted additional rounds of smaller-scale workforce reductions, maintaining a confidential stance on the exact number of affected employees.

Google: 12,000 job cuts

In a surprising move, Google's parent company, Alphabet, disclosed plans to lay off 12,000 employees in mid-January 2023, constituting nearly 6% of its global workforce. The job cuts spanned across various departments, including high-performing teams. Later in October, Google conducted another round of layoffs affecting hundreds of employees in its recruiting division.

Microsoft: Approximately 11,158 job roles

Microsoft unveiled its most extensive layoff round in January 2023, planning to cut 10,000 jobs, approximately 5% of its total workforce. CEO Satya Nadella attributed the layoffs to over-hiring and macroeconomic conditions. Microsoft continued its restructuring efforts, with an additional round in July affecting 276 people in Washington state.

Meta: Roughly 10,000 employees

Meta, previously known as Facebook, initiated its workforce reduction in November 2022, impacting 11,000 employees globally. Mark Zuckerberg's 'year of efficiency' plan continued in March 2023, with an announcement of an additional 10,000 job cuts across two rounds in late April and late May. Reports suggested smaller-scale layoffs throughout the year, making the actual figure likely higher than the confirmed 21,000.

Salesforce: 8,000 job cuts

Salesforce, the cloud-based software company, joined the layoff trend in early 2023, announcing plans to reduce its workforce by 10%, affecting around 8,000 employees. The company cited restructuring and office closures as reasons for the layoffs. Salesforce implemented another round of job cuts in the following month, impacting several hundred additional employees.

Twitter's drastic reduction: Over 6,000 layoffs

After Elon Musk took over Twitter in 2022, he announced the firing of over 6,000 employees, constituting around 80% of the company's workforce. Subsequent layoffs in January 2023 further reduced the employee count to approximately 2,300, with only 550 remaining in full-time roles by April 2023.

Nonetheless, the tech industry's significant workforce reductions in 2023 underscored the challenges faced by major players. Economic uncertainties, restructuring initiatives, and a focus on efficiency led to substantial layoffs. As the tech landscape evolves, the resilience and adaptability of both companies and employees become crucial factors in navigating the complexities of the industry.