New figures show March 2026 was the worst month for tech job layoffs since 2024 — but it's probably going to get worse
March 2026 marked the worst month for tech job layoffs since 2024, with over 38,000 workers cut, primarily due to companies shifting resources toward AI investments. Major firms like Oracle, Meta, Atlassian, and Epic Games led the reductions, citing efficiency gains through automation. Industry analysts warn that the trend may accelerate as companies prioritize AI spending over workforce retention. Entry-level and white-collar roles are especially vulnerable to further reductions.
- ▪Over 38,000 tech workers were laid off in March 2026, the highest monthly total since 2024.
- ▪Oracle accounted for 30,000 of the layoffs following a deal with OpenAI and poor financial performance.
- ▪Companies including Meta, Atlassian, Epic Games, Microsoft, and Amazon have cut staff to fund AI initiatives.
- ▪AI-driven efficiency goals are expected to reduce entry-level and white-collar job opportunities further.
- ▪Job openings in tech have fallen below the 2018 peak, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Pro New figures show March 2026 was the worst month for tech job layoffs since 2024 — but it's probably going to get worse News By Benedict Collins published 28 April 2026 The market for jobs just got a little more competitive When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Isabela Bela / Pixabay) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter March 2026 was the worst month for layoffs since 2024Tech companies are cutting workforces to invest in AIEntry level jobs are shrinking, and other jobs could be nextMarch 2026 has been the worst month for tech job layoffs in the past two years, with over 38,000 employees now out of work.According to layoff tracking website Layoffs.fyi, the majority of the layoffs in March come from Oracle, who slashed 30,000 jobs in March following a rocky end of year performance and a $300 million deal with OpenAI.Atlassian also announced a cut of 1,600 jobs with a shift towards a new AI strategy, and Epic Games cut 1,000 jobs after experiencing an engagement drop with its hit game Fortnite.Article continues below You may like Nearly 80,000 tech workers have already lost their jobs in 2026 — and AI impact means more could be to come Meta could be about to cut thousands more jobs 'So much of the work is going to be done by agents': ServiceNow CEO says graduate unemployment could reach 30% because of AI agents The worst is yet to comeIn March, Meta announced plans to cut 20% of its workforce, or around 16,000 employees, but have since confirmed a 10% reduction, or 8,000 employees, instead. Several other companies, including Microsoft, Block, Amazon, and eBay have all cut their workforces over the past few months. (Image credit: Layoffs.fyi)Many companies are turning towards AI and automation to increase efficiency, productivity, and revenue. This comes with the unfortunate downside that some employees are therefore seen as superfluous, and their jobs cut.As the Wall Street Journal reports, this does come with a caveat. Many companies are attempting to outspend each other on AI, which has become somewhat of an unofficial metric for a company's success. In order to foot the bill for new data centers and chips, jobs are usually the first to go.More and more money gets spent, and more and more CEO’s have to justify that the investment in AI is sound, and is actually delivering the benefits it has promised. If not, cut more jobs and invest more in AI. window.sliceComponents = window.sliceComponents || {}; externalsScriptLoaded.then(() => { window.reliablePageLoad.then(() => { var componentContainer = document.querySelector("#slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-5j9arwp44s8YmBkD8QDCxJ"); if (componentContainer) { var data = {"layout":"inbodyContent","header":"Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter","tagline":"Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!","formFooterText":"By submitting your information you agree to the <a href=\"https:\/\/futureplc.com\/terms-conditions\/\" target=\"_blank\">Terms & Conditions<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/futureplc.com\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\">Privacy Policy<\/a> and are aged 16 or over.","usDisclaimerFooterText":"By signing up, you agree to our <a…
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