Kelsey Ziser
2026-01-16 13:00:00
This tracker follows significant layoffs in the tech and IT industry and the economic, technological and geopolitical factors influencing those layoffs.
In 2025, layoffs shifted from correcting for over hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic to adjusting for macroeconomic pressures and increased AI adoption. Globally, nearly 245,000 tech jobs were cut in 2025, with about 70% of those layoffs stemming from U.S.-headquartered companies. In addition, AI was the cause of nearly 55,000 layoffs in the U.S. in 2025.
On the heels of major headcount reductions by large tech companies including Intel, Microsoft, Amazon and Salesforce in 2025, Meta is leading 2026 layoffs with a reduction of about 1,500 employees from its Reality Labs division. While Meta says its goal is to redirect investments toward AI research and development, AI is also expected to be a significant cause of layoffs this year. In 2026, 55% of 1,000 U.S. hiring managers surveyed by Resume.org said they expect layoffs, and 44% anticipate that AI will be a top driver of layoffs.
AI isn’t the only concern when it comes to headcount reduction. The 2025 job market was shaken by President Donald Trump’s fluctuating tariff policies, a reduction of a quarter million jobs within the U.S. government and a declining base of workers due to immigration policy. It’s also a challenging time for entry-level workers, as the unemployment rate has risen more for younger workers than for older employees.
InformationWeek will continue to monitor major tech layoffs — and the factors contributing to them — in this tracker, which will be updated regularly. Be sure to check back.
Here’s a look at the biggest tech layoffs so far:
January 2026 Tech Layoffs
January 15: Ericsson reduces workforce in Sweden by 12%
Telecom equipment maker Ericsson plans to lay off 1,600 employees in Sweden, which is about 12% of its workforce in the country. Ericsson’s global headquarters is in Stockholm, Sweden, where much of the company’s R&D activities are conducted.
Between the beginning of 2023 and September 2025, Ericsson has cut over 15,600 full-time jobs, which is about 15% of the company’s international total. Ericsson’s efforts to lower costs are due to a reduction in telecom spending, decreased 5G spending and U.S. tariff policies.
January 12: Meta to cut workforce by 10% in Reality Labs division
Meta will lay off 10% or about 1,500 employees in its Reality Labs division, which includes 15,000 employees and focuses on metaverse development, according to The New York Times. Meta employs a total of 78,000 people.
In 2025, CEO Mark Zuckerberg directed executives to reduce their 2026 budgets as Meta increasingly focuses on AI research, The New York Times reported. Meta is also increasing investment in its wearables division, which includes smart glasses, while reducing investment in virtual reality products.
However, last October, Meta said it would lay off 500 employees in its AI division. Zuckerberg demonstrated frustration that Meta has fallen behind rivals including OpenAI in the AI race. In February 2025, Meta reduced its headcount by 5% based on performance ratings.
January 7: Tessera Therapeutics to lay off 35% of workforce
Massachusetts-based biotech company Tessera Therapeutics announced it will lay off 90 employees, reducing headcount to about 160 people.
In December 2025, Tessera said it would receive a $150 million investment from biotech company Regeneron to jointly develop a treatment for the genetic mutation underlying Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. Tessera is developing an alternative approach to genome engineering through its Gene Writing and delivery platforms. The company was launched in 2018 by life sciences company Flagship Pioneering.
