Tech layoffs leap to over 23K in April amid Intel, Meta, and Google’s restructuring bids | Technology News

The tech industry continues to be marred the wave of layoffs. April has seen the most number of layoffs this year, with 19 companies laying off 23,468 employees from various roles across functions. The number of professionals impacted the round of layoffs in April is a steep rise in comparison to March, where 8,834 people from 21 companies lost their jobs. The most number of layoffs was carried out tech giant Intel, which announced its plans to sack about 20 per cent of its workforce.
Streamlining management?
On April 23, it was reported that renowned technology company Intel was considering sacking 20 per cent of its staff. The company was carrying out the layoffs, reportedly to curb bureaucracy. With the layoffs, the company was aiming to streamline its management and rebuild an engineering-driven culture, according to a report in Bloomberg. Last month, Intel named chip veteran Lip-Bu Tan as the CEO, and the latest announcement is the first major restructuring under Tan. Last year in August, the company had announced it would cut about 15,000 jobs. However, the company had 108,900 employees the end of 2024, down from 124,800 in 2023 in the same period.
Google and Meta axe more jobs
The month also witnessed the Meta laying off nearly 100 employees from its workforce. The fresh round of layoffs at the Mark Zuckerberg-led tech giant impacted staff from its Reality Labs division that works on virtual reality and wearable devices. Reportedly, the laid-off staff focused on creating VR experiences for Meta’s Quest headsets and operation-focused on employees working on hardware. According to Meta, these changes are meant to help studios work more efficiently on future mixed-reality experiences for the company’s growing audience while still delivering great content for users today.
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On the other hand, on April 11, it was reported that Google has laid off hundreds of employees from its platforms and devices unit, according to The Information. The job cuts took place at the division which manages the Android platform, Pixel phones and the Chrome browser and other applications. Reportedly, the cuts come after the search giant’s January buyout offers to employees in the unit. “Since combining the platforms and devices teams last year, we’ve focused on becoming more nimble and operating more effectively, and this included making some job reductions in addition to the voluntary exit programme that we offered in January,” a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying The Information. Google’s layoffs come at a time when big tech players have been directing more spending towards data centres and AI infrastructure, all the while scaling back from other areas of their business operations.
Layoffs impact Indian tech players
When it comes to Indian companies, April saw tech firms such as Cars24 and Gupshup fire hundreds of employees. Towards the middle of the month, Gupshup, a company that specialises in conversational AI, laid off around 200 employees. The company has reportedly claimed it to be a restructuring exercise. This is the second time the company has carried out a layoff in the last five months. The company has reportedly said that the fresh round of layoffs was intended to improve efficiency and profitability. On the other hand, the e-commerce platform for pre-owned cars, Cars24, laid off over 250 of its staff in a bid to cut costs. The layoffs impacted staff at its product and technology verticals.
What is driving the layoffs?
The most palpable reason for the ongoing wave of layoffs is global tensions and concerns over inflation that are pushing companies to adopt conservative fiscal strategies. When it comes to individual sectors, companies in consumer tech and hardware such as Intel are responding to declining demand or shifting priorities. Another major factor that is pushing companies to realign their priorities is the prevailing high interest rates, which are limiting their access to capital. Beyond all the usual markers, disruption AI is also a major factor. Even though companies are not vocal about AI’s role in job cuts, a vast majority of tech firms are pumping billions into their AI strategies. Conventional roles such as marketing, support, and data are, to an extent, being reduced or replaced with advancements in AI automation.

According to Layoffs.Fyi, a portal that tracks tech layoffs in real time, 112 companies have laid off 51,028 employees this year. While there is no reason to believe that the wave of layoffs may slow down or change anytime soon, for professionals who are apprehensive about the future course of their careers, experts recommend staying informed and upskilling oneself to stay relevant in times like these.

Bijin Jose, an Assant Editor at Indian Express Online in New Delhi, is a technology journal with a portfolio spanning various prestigious publications. Starting as a citizen journal with The Times of India in 2013, he transitioned through roles at India Today Digital and The Economic Times, before finding his niche at The Indian Express. With a BA in English from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, and an MA in English Literature, Bijin’s expertise extends from crime reporting to cultural features. With a keen interest in closely covering developments in artificial intelligence, Bijin provides nuanced perspectives on its implications for society and beyond. … Read More