A look into global tech layoffs in the second quarter of 2025

If you’ve been working in tech or even just watching from the sidelines, you’ve probably felt it. The quiet unease that crept in early this year turned into a roar by May, when it became clear that 2025 was shaping up to be another heavy year for layoffs.

In Q1 alone, tech companies globally cut more than 61,000 jobs, according to Layoffs.fyi. That quarter saw widespread, rapid downsizing across startups and big names alike. It was sharp, fast, and across the board, marking one of the most brutal quarters since the pandemic-era downturn. And now almost 18,000 tech workers have been laid off in Q2 of 2025, per Trueup.io.

While Q2 has taken on a slightly different tone. While the layoffs haven’t stopped, they’ve slowed. The cuts are smaller, more targeted, and often tied to longer-term restructuring rather than panic. Some companies are still slashing thousands, but the overall scale is more measured than what we saw earlier in the year.

Microsoft returned with another round, 9,000 employees let go this month, following 6,000 cuts in May. That brings the year’s total to 15,000, making it one of the biggest headcount reductions in the company’s history. The driver? A redirection of funds and talent toward AI infrastructure. Microsoft is going all in on artificial intelligence, and that means roles that don’t support this vision, especially in middle management and support functions, are being phased out.

Intel is trimming back its manufacturing workforce, with 529 job losses confirmed in Oregon and potentially thousands more across global facilities. The chipmaker is pushing hard to return to profitability amid cooling demand for personal computers. And while it’s framing these cuts as “strategic,” the impact on long-time staff is very real.

STMicroelectronics is slimming down more quietly. CEO Jean-Marc Chery revealed plans for 5,000 roles to disappear, over the next three years, including 2,800 layoffs already announced. The rest will go through attrition and voluntary exits as the company realigns its operations with shifting semiconductor market trends.

In contrast, Google’s Q2 cuts were far smaller. About 75 employees from its Smart TV unit were let go, part of a broader reshuffle of the company’s platforms and devices teams. With demand for TVs down and budgets being trimmed, the unit was an easy target.

Bumble laid off 240 employees, or 30% of its workforce. While painful for those affected, the move was cheered by investors, its stock jumped 25%. The company aims to save $40 million a year through the restructuring.

TomTom announced 300 job cuts, around 10% of its staff, as it pivots away from standalone GPS devices and focuses on AI-powered mapping for vehicles.

ByteDance trimmed 65 roles in the U.S., affecting its TikTok and e-commerce operations. Some of these roles were replaced with managers closer to its China headquarters, suggesting a strategic refocus.

Nayax, a fintech firm, laid off 70 employees, citing overlap from recent acquisitions. Despite growing revenues, the company is looking to stay lean. While Other tech companies laid off about 2,664 staffs.

Unlike Q1’s wave of abrupt and often reactive layoffs, Q2’s job cuts reflect something else: longer-term strategic moves, not survival instincts. Companies are reorganising teams, shedding roles that no longer serve their future goals, and doubling down on investments in automation, AI, and cloud infrastructure.

Part of what’s driving this is cost. With rising interest rates and inflation still pressuring margins, layoffs remain a quick way to save money. But increasingly, it’s not just about the bottom line, it’s about future-proofing the workforce.

Demand is also shifting. Slowing sales of personal computers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles have left entire product categories vulnerable. Units tied to those products, like Intel’s manufacturing and Google’s media teams, are becoming easy targets.

Who’s being hit? It varies, but it’s broad. Engineers, legal teams, sales and marketing staff, and even senior product managers are affected. U.S. and Indian offices have seen particularly high impact, reflecting the global nature of the restructuring. And while entry-level roles are being cut, it’s mid-level professionals who seem most at risk, especially in teams seen as legacy-heavy or nonessential.

Q2 may not be as chaotic as Q1, but the message is clear: the industry is still reshaping itself for the AI era. Whether Q3 will bring more calm or another spike in cuts depends on how quickly companies see returns on their AI bets and how much more trimming they believe they need to get there.