RationalFX: tech layoffs totaled 78,557 in Q1 2026, with the US accounting for 76.7%; nearly half were attributed to AI implementation and workflow automation (Nikkei Asia)
Why it matters: 78,557 tech workers lost their jobs in Q1 2026, with 76.7% in the US, largely due to AI.
- RationalFX reports a total of 78,557 tech layoffs in Q1 2026 (Nikkei Asia).
- The US accounted for a substantial 76.7% of all tech layoffs during this period (Nikkei Asia).
- AI implementation and workflow automation were responsible for nearly half of these job cuts, indicating their growing impact on the tech workforce (Nikkei Asia).
In Q1 2026, tech layoffs reached 78,557 globally, with the US experiencing 76.7% of these job losses. Nearly half of these layoffs are directly attributed to the implementation of AI and workflow automation, signaling a significant shift in the tech employment landscape.
