2026 Tech Layoffs: Trends and Predictions
- Between the beginning of 2023 and September 2025, ericsson has cut over 15,600 full-time jobs, which is about 15% of the company's international total.
- Meta will lay off 10% or about 1,500 employees in its Reality Labs division, which includes 15,000 employees and focuses on metaverse development, according to The New York...
- In 2025, CEO Mark Zuckerberg directed executives to reduce their 2026 budgets as Meta increasingly focuses on AI research, the New York Times reported.
This tracker follows notable layoffs in the tech and IT industry and the economic, technological and geopolitical factors influencing those layoffs.
In 2025, layoffs shifted from correcting for over hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic to adjusting for macroeconomic pressures and increased AI adoption. Globally, nearly 245,000 tech jobs were cut in 2025, with about 70% of those layoffs stemming from U.S.-headquartered companies. In addition, AI was the cause of nearly 55,000 layoffs in the U.S. in 2025.
On the heels of major headcount reductions by large tech companies including Intel, Microsoft, Amazon and Salesforce in 2025, Meta is leading 2026 layoffs with a reduction of about 1,500 employees from its Reality Labs division. While Meta says its goal is to redirect investments toward AI research and development, AI is also expected to be a significant cause of layoffs this year. In 2026, 55% of 1,000 U.S. hiring managers surveyed by Resume.org said they expespan>Ericsson plans to lay off 1,600 employees in Sweden, which is about 12% of its workforce in the country. Ericsson’s global headquarters is in Stockholm,Sweden,where much of the company’s R&D activities are conducted.
Between the beginning of 2023 and September 2025, ericsson has cut over 15,600 full-time jobs, which is about 15% of the company’s international total. Ericsson’s efforts to lower costs are due to a reduction in telecom spending, decreased 5G spending and U.S. tariff policies.
January 12: Meta to cut workforce by 10% in Reality Labs division
Meta will lay off 10% or about 1,500 employees in its Reality Labs division, which includes 15,000 employees and focuses on metaverse development, according to The New York Times. Meta employs a total of 78,000 people.
In 2025, CEO Mark Zuckerberg directed executives to reduce their 2026 budgets as Meta increasingly focuses on AI research, the New York Times reported. Meta is also increasing investment in its wearables division, which includes smart glasses, while reducing investment in virtual reality products.
Though, last october, Meta said it would lay off 500 employees in its AI division. Zuckerberg demonstrated frustration that Meta has fallen behind rivals including OpenAI in the AI race. In February 2025, Meta reduced its headcount by 5% based on performance ratings.
January 7: Tessera Therapeutics to lay off 35% of workforce
Massachusetts-based biotech company Tessera Therapeutics announced it will lay off 90 employees, reducing headcount to about 160 people.
In December 2025, Tessera said it would receive a https://www.boston.com/news/business/2026/01/12/somerville-biotech-company-laying-off-35-of-workforce/ explicitly states Tessera is laying off 35% of its workforce, impacting approximately 90 employees, and bringing the total headcount to around 160.
* Fierce Biotech (January 7, 2026): https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/flagship-founded-tessera-plans-lay-90-employees-march#:~:text=tessera%20Therapeutics%20is%20planning%20to,U.S.%20states%20starting%20March%208. corroborates the 90 employee layoff figure and the March 8th start date for the reductions.
2. Regeneron Investment:
* Claim: Tessera received a $150 million investment from Regeneron in December 2025 to jointly develop a treatment for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD).
* Verification: This claim is confirmed.
* Tessera Therapeutics Press Release (December 18, 2025): https://www.tesseratherapeutics.com/news/regeneron-and-tessera-therapeutics-to-jointly-develop-tsra-196-an-investigational-gene-editing-therapy-for-alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency-aatd details the collaboration with Regeneron and the $150 million investment to develop TSRA-196 for AATD.
3. Company background:
* Claim: Tessera was launched in 2018 by Flagship Pioneering and is developing an option approach to genome engineering.
* Verification: This claim is confirmed.
* Tessera Therapeutics Website: (https://www.tesseratherapeutics.com/) confirms the company was founded by Flagship Pioneering and focuses on Gene Writing and delivery platforms as an alternative to traditional genome editing.
breaking News Check (as of 2026/01/18 11:10:21):
A search for news regarding Tessera Therapeutics sence January 12, 2026, reveals no significant updates beyond the initial layoff and investment announcements. The layoffs are still scheduled to begin on March 8th, according to available data.
Latest Verified status: As of January 18, 2026, the information regarding Tessera Therapeutics’ layoffs and Regeneron investment remains accurate and has been independently verified by multiple authoritative sources. The company is proceeding with a workforce reduction of approximately 35% (90 employees) and is collaborating with Regeneron on a gene-editing therapy for AATD.