Tech layoffs in 2026 are running above 2025 but well below the 2023 peak. Technology companies announced 165,925 US job cuts from January through September 2026, up 54% from 107,878 in the same months of 2025 and 29% of all announced cuts, more than any other industry (Challenger, Gray and Christmas, October 1, 2026). The layoffs.fyi tracker counts 134,917 tech employees laid off at 328 companies in 2026 as of October 21, 2026, already more than the 122,606 it counted for all of 2025 (layoffs.fyi).
Official government data looks calmer. Across all US employers, layoffs and discharges were about 1.6 million in August 2026, a rate of 1.0%, down from 1.8 million a year earlier (BLS JOLTS, Table 5). The sources measure different things, which is explained below. Every figure on this page was checked in October 2026. For job postings, pay and hiring timelines, see our companion page on tech hiring statistics for 2026. If you were laid off yourself, start with our guide to what to do after a tech layoff.
- Announced US tech job cuts reached 165,925 in January to September 2026, up 54% from the same period of 2025 (Challenger, October 2026).
- Technology accounts for 29% of all job cuts announced in 2026, the largest share of any industry (Challenger, October 2026).
- Layoffs.fyi counts 134,917 tech employees laid off at 328 companies in 2026 as of October 21, 2026, about half the 2023 total of 265,660.
- Official BLS data shows US layoffs and discharges little changed at 1.6 million in August 2026; the Information industry recorded 28,000 (preliminary).
- The median spell of unemployment for all US job seekers was 11.5 weeks in September 2026, up from 10.1 weeks a year earlier (BLS).
How many tech workers were laid off in 2026?
It depends on which source you use, because each one counts something different. Here are the three most cited, side by side:
| Source | What it counts | 2026 figure | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Challenger, Gray and Christmas | Job cuts announced by US-based employers in the technology industry | 165,925 | January to September 2026 |
| Layoffs.fyi | Tech employees laid off at tech companies, from media reports and company announcements | 134,917 at 328 companies | January 1 to October 21, 2026 |
| BLS JOLTS | Layoffs and discharges at US employers in the Information industry (survey-based, seasonally adjusted) | 28,000 (preliminary) | August 2026 only |
None of these is the "true" number of tech layoffs. Challenger and layoffs.fyi are better at showing the scale and direction of cuts at tech companies; BLS is the best measure of actual layoffs across the economy, but it has no single "tech" category.
Challenger: announced tech job cuts in 2026
Challenger, Gray and Christmas, an outplacement firm, publishes a monthly count of job cuts announced by US-based employers. Its September report, published October 1, 2026, shows the following:
- Technology companies announced 10,799 cuts in September 2026, up 77% from 6,103 in August.
- Year to date, technology announced 165,925 cuts, up 54% from 107,878 through September 2025.
- Across all industries, employers announced 43,281 cuts in September and 573,195 year to date, down 39% from 946,426 in the first nine months of 2025. Excluding government, which had unusually large cuts in 2025, the decline was 15%.
- Artificial intelligence was cited in 120,136 announced cuts across all industries this year, about 21% of the total, making it the leading reason given year to date.
| Industry | Announced job cuts, January to September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Technology | 165,925 |
| Transportation | 44,430 |
| Health Care/Products | 37,417 |
| Consumer Products | 30,652 |
| Services | 30,084 |
Source: Challenger, Gray and Christmas, September 2026 report. Keep in mind that these are announcements: a company may announce cuts that take effect over months, or that change before they happen.
Layoffs.fyi: tech layoffs by year, 2020 to 2026
Layoffs.fyi is a tracker maintained by Roger Lee, a startup founder, since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Its press page says it tracks tech layoffs "reported by the media, announced by the company, or otherwise verified", leaves out rumors, and is likely an undercount because many layoffs go unreported. It covers tech companies worldwide, not only in the US.
| Year | Tech employees laid off | Tech companies with layoffs |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to October 21) | 134,917 | 328 |
| 2025 | 122,606 | 278 |
| 2024 | 152,922 | 551 |
| 2023 | 265,660 | 1,194 |
| 2022 | 165,269 | 1,064 |
| 2021 | 15,823 | 43 |
| 2020 | 80,998 | 598 |
Source: layoffs.fyi annual totals, retrieved October 21, 2026. By our calculation, 2026 is about 10% above all of 2025 with more than two months left, and about half of 2023. Fewer companies are cutting than in 2023, but the average cut per company is larger.
What official BLS data says about layoffs in 2026
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) counts actual layoffs and discharges reported by a sample of US employers, rather than announcements or news reports. It is the most reliable measure of layoffs across the economy, but its industry groups do not match "tech" neatly.
| Industry | Aug 2025 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2026 | Aug 2026 (preliminary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,832,000 (1.2%) | 1,785,000 (1.1%) | 1,702,000 (1.1%) | 1,641,000 (1.0%) |
| Information | 35,000 (1.2%) | 54,000 (2.0%) | 38,000 (1.4%) | 28,000 (1.0%) |
| Professional and business services | 481,000 (2.2%) | 494,000 (2.2%) | 446,000 (2.0%) | 390,000 (1.7%) |
Source: BLS JOLTS Table 5, layoffs and discharges, seasonally adjusted, released September 29, 2026. The rate is layoffs and discharges as a percent of employment. BLS's Information industry includes software publishing, telecommunications, data processing and hosting, and web search portals, along with publishing and broadcasting. Many tech workers, such as those at IT services and consulting firms, are counted in professional and business services instead.
Why do tech layoff numbers differ between sources?
- Announced versus actual. Challenger counts cuts when they are announced; JOLTS counts separations when they happen. An announcement in January may play out over the year.
- Who is included. Challenger counts US-based employers. Layoffs.fyi counts tech companies worldwide. JOLTS covers employers in the US.
- What "tech" means. Challenger and layoffs.fyi classify by company. JOLTS classifies by industry, so a software engineer laid off by a bank is not counted as tech, while a call-center worker at a telecom company is counted in Information.
- Coverage. Layoffs.fyi depends on public reports and says it is likely an undercount. Small cuts and private companies are often missing from trackers.
- Revisions. JOLTS figures for the latest month are preliminary and are revised the following month.
The practical rule: compare figures within one source over time, not across sources.
How long does it take to find a job after a layoff in 2026?
No official source tracks job-search length for laid-off tech workers specifically. The closest measure is BLS data on how long all unemployed people in the US have been looking (BLS Employment Situation, Table A-12):
- The median duration of unemployment was 11.5 weeks in September 2026, up from 10.1 weeks in September 2025.
- About 1.9 million people, 27.1% of the unemployed, had been looking for 27 weeks or longer in September 2026, up from 23.6% a year earlier.
Those figures cover every occupation, and individual searches vary widely by role, level and location. They are still a reasonable basis for planning: budget for a search of several months, and treat a fast offer as a bonus rather than the plan.
What the 2026 tech layoff numbers mean for job seekers
- A layoff is common and rarely personal. Tens of thousands of tech workers have been laid off this year, often in cuts that removed whole teams. Interviewers know this. Our guide on how to explain a layoff in an interview shows how to say it in two calm sentences.
- Plan for a longer search. Rising unemployment duration means building a realistic runway and a steady routine. Our job search plan after a layoff lays out the first 90 days.
- Lean on people, not only job boards. When openings draw many applicants, referrals from former colleagues matter more. See how to ask for a referral after a layoff.
- Be ready to talk about AI. With AI cited as a leading reason for cuts, an interviewer may ask how you use AI tools in your work. Have a specific, honest example ready.
- Make each interview count. When screens are harder to get, preparation matters more. Practice out loud before the first call, for example with an AI mock interview that scores your answers.
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How many tech layoffs have there been in 2026?
Challenger, Gray and Christmas counts 165,925 announced job cuts by US-based technology companies from January through September 2026. Layoffs.fyi counts 134,917 tech employees laid off at 328 companies worldwide in 2026 as of October 21, 2026. The figures differ because the sources measure different things.
Are tech layoffs in 2026 worse than in 2025?
By both trackers, yes. Challenger's announced tech cuts through September 2026 were up 54% from the same period of 2025, and layoffs.fyi's 2026 count already exceeds its full-year 2025 total of 122,606. Both remain well below 2023 on layoffs.fyi, which counted 265,660 that year.
What share of 2026 job cuts are in tech?
Technology accounts for 29% of all job cuts announced by US-based employers in 2026 through September, more than any other industry, according to Challenger, Gray and Christmas.
How many 2026 job cuts were blamed on AI?
Challenger counts 120,136 announced job cuts across all industries in 2026 through September where artificial intelligence was cited, about 21% of all announced cuts and the leading reason year to date.
Why do layoffs.fyi and Challenger numbers differ?
Challenger counts job cuts announced by US-based employers, classified by industry. Layoffs.fyi counts layoffs at tech companies worldwide that were reported by the media or announced by the company, and says it is likely an undercount. Compare figures within one source rather than across sources.
How long are people unemployed in 2026?
BLS data shows a median duration of unemployment of 11.5 weeks in September 2026, up from 10.1 weeks a year earlier, and 27.1% of unemployed people had been looking for 27 weeks or longer. These figures cover all occupations, not only tech.