2026 Layoff Tracker Hits 185,894 Workers, 56% Citing AI — But Engineering Roles Prove Most Resilient

TechCrunch·medium signal

TechCrunch's running tracker (updated July 6) counts 267 layoff events affecting 185,894 workers in 2026, with 56% citing AI or automation, and notable cuts at Oracle (~30K), Meta (~8K), and Intuit (~3K). Yet separate data shows engineering roles are the most resilient — down just 11% versus a 25% overall hiring drop, with engineers making up 55% of new tech hires. The builder signal: AI is compressing headcount broadly while keeping demand for the people who orchestrate it.