SAN FRANCISCO -- The technology sector eliminated more than 90,000 positions in the first 95 days of 2026, averaging 963 layoffs per day as major companies restructure around AI-driven operations [1].

Oracle led the cuts with 30,000 positions eliminated, many notified by a single companywide email. Amazon followed with 16,000 cuts across its retail and cloud divisions. Intel reduced its workforce by 25,000, while Microsoft trimmed 15,000 positions [2].

The scale of Q1 2026 layoffs exceeds the total annual cuts of any year since the dot-com bust, according to tracking data compiled by industry analysts. Unlike previous rounds driven by pandemic-era overhiring, the current wave reflects a deliberate shift toward AI automation [1].

"Companies aren't just cutting costs — they're redesigning their organizations around what AI can do," said one corporate recruiter tracking the cuts [3]. "What employees fail to realize is that these aren't temporary reductions. These roles aren't coming back."

Meta, Dell, Block, and Epic Games also announced significant reductions in the quarter. The cuts span engineering, sales, customer support, and administrative functions — areas where AI tools are increasingly deployed [2].

The layoffs have triggered a surge in tech worker anxiety, with job postings declining 18% year-over-year even as company revenues grow. Analysts expect additional rounds through Q2 as earnings reports reveal further AI-driven restructuring plans [3].

-- DAVID CHEN, San Francisco