2025 is shaping up to be a brutal year for workers — and the tech sector is taking the hardest hit.
According to data from layoffs.fyi, more than 53,000 tech workers have been laid off by 126 companies — and it’s only May. Leading the pack is Intel. The chipmaker is cutting up to 20% of its workforce, on top of the 15,000 job cuts already announced.
CEO Lip-Bu Tan says the company is eliminating layers of bureaucracy, after reporting a staggering $19 billion loss last year. Next, Microsoft. The tech giant is slashing 6,800 roles, about 3% of its global workforce. The cuts impact all levels — from Microsoft-owned LinkedIn to several international divisions — part of a broader corporate reshuffle.
Meta is also scaling down. Since January, around 4,000 employees have been let go — that’s 5% of its workforce. CEO Mark Zuckerberg had warned earlier that 2025 would be, in his words, “an intense year.”
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But it’s not just tech. In the auto industry, Nissan is making deep cuts. Just six months after laying off 9,000 workers, it now plans to cut 20,000 more by 2027 — 15% of its global workforce — under its “Re:Nissan” recovery plan. The goal: save $3.4 billion.
Finance isn’t spared either. JPMorgan Chase has entered its third round of layoffs this year. In August, 63 more employees in Jersey City will be let go — following 121 job cuts in May and 145 in June — as the bank continues to realign its workforce with shifting business needs.
Luxury retail is under pressure too. Burberry is undergoing a major shake-up, with up to 1,700 jobs affected worldwide as part of its turnaround strategy through 2027.The logistics sector is tightening as well. DHL is cutting 364 jobs at its Ontario, California facility, citing changes in customer distribution strategy. The facility will be shut down.
And in manufacturing, Panasonic is making a tough call. The company is laying off 10,000 workers globally amid profit declines and growing pressure in the EV market. In a rare move, CEO Yuki Kusumi is slashing his own salary by 40%, acknowledging leadership responsibility.
Across every sector — from chips to cars, banks to batteries — companies are cutting deep — and the global job market is feeling the impact.
