2026 tech layoffs reach 45,000 in March

Data shows that roughly 9,238, or about 20 percent of the 45,363 tech layoffs recorded worldwide since the start of the year, and have been linked to artificial intelligence (AI) implementation and organizational restructuring, RationalFX said Monday.

The global personal finance and trading education platform said in a statement that the largest contributor to these reductions is the American technology firm Block (4,000 layoffs), whose Chief Executive Officer, Jack Dorsey, said in a post on social media that the decision was not driven by financial difficulty, but by the growing capability of AI tools to perform a wider range of tasks.

As a result, the company is significantly reducing its workforce, from roughly 10,000 employees to about 6,000, as it shifts its strategic focus more heavily towards AI.

These Аre the Tech Companies With the Most Layoffs Due to AI So Far in 2026 Block – 4,000 layoffs WiseTech Global – 2,000 layoffs Livspace – 1,000 layoffs eBay – 800 layoffs Pinterest – 675 layoffs ANGI Homeservices – 350 layoffs Oracle – 254 layoffs MercadoLibre – 119 layoffs

Meanwhile, Australian logistics software developer WiseTech Global announced 2,000 layoffs as part of a sweeping AI-driven restructuring program aimed at transforming how its logistics platforms are built and maintained.

Company leadership argued that advances in generative AI and large language models are dramatically increasing software engineering productivity, with executives stating that traditional approaches to writing and maintaining code are becoming increasingly obsolete.

Singapore-based home design platform Livspace has also cut 1,000 jobs as part of its push to accelerate the adoption of AI across its digital interior-design marketplace.

Executives have framed the layoffs as part of a shift toward a more technology-driven platform capable of delivering faster and more personalized design services to customers.

E-commerce platform eBay has also announced 800 layoffs, with the company increasingly investing in AI tools designed to automate product listings, pricing optimization, and customer-service workflows.

In recent years, the firm has rolled out AI systems capable of automatically generating product descriptions, categorizing listings, and assisting sellers with pricing strategies, reducing the need for large support and operations teams.

Social media platform Pinterest, on the other hand, has confirmed around 675 layoffs, affecting roughly 15% of its workforce, as the company pivots toward what executives describe as an ‘AI-forward strategy’.

Company filings note that the layoffs will allow Pinterest to prioritize AI-focused teams and products while reducing office space and streamlining its sales structure.

The announcement triggered mixed reactions from investors and employees, with the company’s share price falling following the news and some users voicing concern about the growing volume of AI-generated content appearing on the platform.

Indeed, in 2026, several U.S. cities stand out as the headquarters of the largest contributors to global tech layoffs.

Seattle, home to technology giants Amazon and Microsoft, tops the list with 16,590 employees affected worldwide, followed by San Francisco, with 9,395 layoffs, and Menlo Park, home to Meta Platforms, with 1,500 reductions.

Outside the United States, Sydney ranks among the cities most affected by tech layoffs after logistics software developer WiseTech Global eliminated 2,000 positions as part of a sweeping restructuring program.

The reductions account for the vast majority of Australia’s tech layoffs so far this year, placing Sydney among the global tech hubs most impacted by the sector’s early-2026 downsizing.

Across Europe, two major technology hubs also feature prominently. Stockholm, home to telecommunications equipment maker Ericsson, accounts for 1,900 layoffs, while the Dutch town of Veldhoven, headquarters of semiconductor equipment leader ASML, has seen 1,700 roles cut.

While the absolute numbers remain smaller than those recorded in the United States, these figures illustrate how restructuring efforts among Europe’s largest technology firms are similarly reshaping local employment landscapes.

“Even as companies post record revenues in 2026, the tech sector continues to be fundamentally reshaped by AI,

“Firms such as Block and Amazon have explicitly tied workforce reductions to AI and automation as they reorganize around more efficient, technology-driven workflows,” said Alan Cohen, analyst at RationalFX.

He noted that if these waves of layoffs continue at the current pace, economists warn they could place sustained upward pressure on unemployment across the sector and beyond as AI adoption accelerates.

He also said this trend reflects a broader dynamic: firms are investing heavily in AI‑powered tools and infrastructure to boost efficiency, but the transition is also disrupting traditional job structures, as many entry-level positions have now become obsolete.

“As AI takes on more responsibilities once handled by humans, the question is no longer if jobs will change, but when and how,” he added.

It is noted the tech sector continues to navigate the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted more than a million tech employees around the world since 2021.

The first month of 2026 has already seen a surge in layoffs, and based on current trends, if job cuts continue at the same intensity, total reductions could reach 264,730 by year-end, surpassing 2025’s 245,000 layoffs.

A key driver behind many of these reductions remains the growing integration of AI and automation.

Companies are increasingly restructuring teams and workflows around AI-assisted systems, often reducing headcount in areas where tasks can be automated or handled more efficiently with new tools.

While earlier rounds of layoffs tended to focus on operational and support roles, more recent cuts indicate that the shift is affecting a broader range of positions, including specialized and senior roles as organizations reorganize around AI-first strategies.

At the same time, employers are placing greater emphasis on AI-related expertise when hiring or evaluating staff.

Many companies have attempted to soften the impact of layoffs through reskilling programs and internal redeployment, but executives across the industry have increasingly questioned whether these approaches can keep pace with the speed of technological change.

As 2026 progresses, the trajectory of layoffs will likely depend on how quickly companies transition toward AI-driven operations, and whether the technology ultimately leads to the creation of new roles as quickly as it eliminates existing ones, said RationalFX.