India News
Tech layoffs continue to ripple across the globe. With economic instability, pressure in global markets, declining profits, and the growing adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), tech companies are trimming their workforce to reduce operational costs. This wave of layoffs, which began around 2019 during the COVID-19 outbreak, is still far from over. In 2025 too, hundreds of companies have laid off millions of employees. Giants like TCS, Microsoft, Intel, and IBM have already shown thousands of workers the door.
12,000 to Be Laid Off by TCS
The rise of AI has cast a shadow over IT jobs. While AI offers potential efficiency gains, its impact on employment is significant. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services firm, has announced layoffs affecting nearly 2% of its global workforce — translating to about 12,200 employees. Most of those affected will be in middle and senior management roles.
TCS CEO K. Krithivasan, in an interview with Moneycontrol, revealed that the tech landscape is changing rapidly, and companies must adapt to future opportunities. When asked about the reasons behind the layoffs, he pointed to broader industry changes and evolving work models.
As of June 2025, TCS has around 613,000 employees worldwide. The company clarified that junior-level staff would be largely unaffected, with most cuts targeting higher levels.
Microsoft Cuts 9,000 Jobs
As part of its cost-cutting strategy, Microsoft has once again launched large-scale layoffs — this time affecting nearly 4% of its workforce, which equates to about 9,000 employees. The layoffs are expected across Xbox and gaming divisions. According to industry sources, this could be Microsoft’s fourth-largest round of layoffs in the last 18 months.
Earlier in May, Microsoft laid off around 6,000 employees, about 3% of its workforce. This follows a major round in 2023, when the company let go of 10,000 workers. A company spokesperson explained that the layoffs are aimed at streamlining operations and reducing management layers to ensure competitiveness and organizational efficiency.
Intel Slashes 20% of Workforce
Chipmaker Intel recently announced that it would be laying off approximately 25,000 employees, or 20% of its total workforce. The layoffs will hit chip design, cloud architecture, and executive roles the hardest. New CEO Lip-Bu Tan emphasized the company’s goal to improve efficiency and operate with leaner, faster teams.
IBM Lays Off 8,000 Employees
Tech giant IBM has reportedly laid off about 8,000 employees, with a major chunk coming from the Human Resources (HR) department. Sources say that IBM has already replaced nearly 200 HR roles with AI systems, as part of its automation drive. The company seems to be embracing AI at the cost of its traditional workforce.
Amazon, Google, Meta Also Join the Layoff Wave
Other major tech players like Amazon, Google, and Meta are also downsizing. Amazon recently announced layoffs in its Books and Kindle divisions, as well as in several other teams. Since 2022, the company has let go of over 27,000 employees. In June alone, about 100 workers were laid off. Reports suggest Amazon may cut a further 14,000 jobs, about 13% of its workforce, as part of a broader cost-cutting plan.
Earlier this year, Meta laid off over 3,000 employees, including some on maternity and medical leave, which drew heavy criticism. Meanwhile, Google has terminated hundreds of roles across cloud, people operations, and sales departments — citing AI as a major reason.
AI’s Rise Sparks Fear Among Tech Workers
With AI accelerating job cuts across all levels, tech professionals are left anxious and uncertain. As companies restructure to compete in dynamic markets, AI is rapidly reshaping the workforce. The fear of sudden termination looms large, leaving many techies worried about what news tomorrow might bring.
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