Tech layoffs top 5,000 in October as Netflix, eBay, Amazon cut jobs

Technology companies cut more than 5,000 jobs in October 2026, according to month-end tallies published on 30 and 31 October, with Amazon, Netflix and eBay among the biggest names. The GoLayoffs tracker counted 5,147 tech layoffs in the month and put the year's total at more than 69,000 workers across 93 companies. Other trackers, which count differently, show far higher totals for 2026: Layoffs.fyi had counted about 1.35 lakh tech employees laid off at 328 companies by 21 October, and TrueUp about 1.96 lakh by 23 October. A growing share of announcements now mention artificial intelligence as a reason.

For people building tech careers, the October numbers show that job cuts at large technology companies have not stopped, even as these companies spend heavily on artificial intelligence. Many of the firms cutting staff are also hiring for AI, cloud and data roles. The result is a reshuffle rather than a simple shrinking: routine and support roles are being reduced while demand grows for people who can build, run and apply AI systems.

The role of AI in these decisions is debated. Some companies have openly linked cuts to automation and AI efficiencies. Others reject that link: HubSpot's chief executive said its cuts were not driven by AI-related efficiencies, even though some trackers count them as AI-related. One tracker estimates that about a quarter of all the layoffs it has recorded this year were linked to AI and automation, and another report says one in three tech layoffs this year mentioned AI as a factor. Because companies describe their reasons differently, these estimates are rough.

The tracker totals also need care. Each service counts from different sources and uses different rules, which is why their 2026 totals range from about 69,000 to nearly two lakh. Analysts warn against adding them up or comparing them directly. What they agree on is the direction: layoffs remain a steady feature of the tech industry in 2026.

For Indian tech workers and students, the news is relevant because many of these companies have large teams or partners in India, and global cuts often reach Indian offices and service providers. The practical lesson from the year's pattern is to build skills that companies are still hiring for, such as working with AI tools, data and cloud platforms, and to keep a record of projects and results that shows clear value to an employer.

October 2026 tech job cuts: main announcements Company | Jobs cut (approx.) | Share of staff Netflix | 1,000 | about 6% eBay | 1,100 | about 9% HubSpot | 660 | 7% Dropbox | 200 | about 9%

Short-term: Affected employees in the US, Europe and in global offices face job searches, and recruiters may see more applications for open roles.

Long-term: The shift of spending towards AI is likely to keep reshaping tech jobs, with fewer roles in some functions and more demand for AI, data and infrastructure skills.

Who is affected: Employees at the companies making cuts, job seekers and students planning tech careers, Indian IT and service firms that work with these companies, and recruiters.

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