Mass layoffs have been a defining feature of 2025 so far, with thousands of employees losing their jobs across various industries. Large corporations, tech firms, and startups alike have announced job cuts, citing economic pressures, restructuring efforts, and shifting business priorities. While some layoffs were expected due to ongoing financial challenges from previous years, the scale and frequency of job losses have raised concerns about job security and economic stability.
The beginning of the year saw a wave of layoffs in the technology sector, where some of the biggest companies, including Google, Amazon, and Meta, continued to reduce their workforce. These cuts affected employees across multiple departments, with a focus on non-core teams, restructuring efforts, and efficiency drives. Some companies have justified their decisions by pointing to declining revenue, the need to streamline operations, and the impact of artificial intelligence on job roles. Others, like Cruise and Skybox Security, have been forced to shut down entirely, leaving employees scrambling to find new opportunities.
Autodesk, a major software company, announced the layoff of 1,350 employees, representing 9% of its total workforce. The company attributed these cuts to an effort to reshape its go-to-market strategy. While Autodesk has reduced its real estate footprint, it has reassured employees that it will not close any of its offices. Similarly, Google has made reductions in its People Operations and cloud organizations teams, offering a voluntary exit program to affected U.S.-based employees.
Nautilus, a biotechnology firm, cut 25 employees, which made up 16% of its workforce. Despite these reductions, the company remains focused on launching its commercial proteome analysis platform in 2026. Meanwhile, eBay cut dozens of jobs in Israel, affecting around 10% of its 250-person workforce in the country. Starbucks, another major employer, laid off 1,100 workers in a restructuring move that impacted its technology division. As a result, the company will now rely more on third-party service providers for technical operations.
Commercetools, an e-commerce software provider, also saw substantial job cuts. After failing to meet sales targets, the company laid off dozens of employees over the past few weeks, with a particularly large round affecting 10% of its staff in one day. The company had raised money at a $1.9 billion valuation a few years ago, making the layoffs a stark contrast to its previous growth projections.
Dayforce, a workforce management firm, cut 5% of its workforce in an attempt to increase efficiency and profitability. Similarly, Expedia, a major travel company, reduced its staff further as part of cost-cutting measures. Although the total number of affected employees is unknown, the company had previously laid off 1,500 workers in its Product & Technology division in 2024.
Cybersecurity firms have not been spared from layoffs either. Skybox Security shut down operations completely, laying off 300 employees after selling its business and technology to Israeli cybersecurity firm Tufin. Sophos, another cybersecurity company, announced layoffs affecting 6% of its total workforce, just two weeks after acquiring Secureworks for $859 million.
Several other technology firms have experienced layoffs, including Unity, Zendesk, and Workday. Unity conducted another round of job cuts, though the exact number remains unknown. Zendesk cut 51 jobs at its San Francisco headquarters, following an earlier reduction of 8% of its workforce in 2023. Workday, a human resources platform, laid off 1,750 employees, affecting 8.5% of its workforce.
The impact of layoffs in 2025 has extended beyond the technology sector. Redfin, a real estate company, announced job cuts affecting 450 positions, with further restructuring set to continue into the fall. Blue Origin, the space exploration company founded by Jeff Bezos, will lay off 10% of its workforce, affecting more than 1,000 employees, primarily in engineering and program management roles.
The Nigerian startup Vendease laid off 120 employees, representing 44% of its workforce. This was the second layoff round for the Y Combinator-backed company in just five months. Similarly, Logically, a startup focused on combating misinformation, cut dozens of jobs to ensure what it described as “long-term success.”
JustWorks, a professional employer organization, let go of nearly 200 employees, citing concerns about economic uncertainties such as a potential recession and rising interest rates. Bird, an electric scooter company, reduced its workforce by 120 employees, which accounts for one-third of its staff. The company had already cut 90 employees the previous year as part of a broader restructuring plan.
Sprinklr, a customer experience management platform, laid off 500 employees, affecting 15% of its workforce. This followed two earlier rounds of layoffs, which saw about 200 employees lose their jobs. Similarly, Sonos, a consumer electronics company, reportedly laid off 200 workers after previously cutting 100 positions in August 2024.
Even major corporations like Salesforce and Okta have not been immune to job cuts. Salesforce eliminated more than 1,000 jobs while simultaneously recruiting for new AI-related positions. Okta, a cybersecurity firm specializing in identity and access management, laid off 180 employees just over a year after previously cutting 400 workers.
Cruise, the autonomous vehicle company owned by General Motors, saw one of the largest layoffs of the year. The company cut 50% of its workforce, including several top executives, as it prepared to shut down operations. The remaining parts of the business will now be integrated into General Motors.
Some companies have already shut down entirely in 2025. Cushion, a fintech startup founded in 2018, ceased operations after failing to secure a buyer. Placer.ai, a location analytics firm, laid off 150 employees, or 18% of its workforce, in an effort to reach profitability. Pandion, a delivery startup, shut down its business, affecting 63 employees, who were paid through January 15 without severance.
Amazon, one of the biggest employers in the world, made cuts within its communications department to improve efficiency and streamline operations. Stripe, a fintech giant, announced plans to lay off 300 employees while still growing its overall workforce by 17%. Meanwhile, Meta planned to cut 5% of its staff, focusing on employees it deemed “low performers.”
As layoffs continue to mount in 2025, employees across industries are facing uncertainty and job insecurity. Many companies have cited economic challenges, restructuring efforts, and changing business strategies as reasons for these cuts. The impact on workers and their families remains a major concern, as thousands search for new employment opportunities.
While some industries may see a rebound later in the year, the first two months of 2025 have already been marked by widespread job losses. The coming months will reveal whether businesses stabilize their workforce or if more layoffs are on the horizon.
