us tech workers

Proposed US H-1B wage hikes are poised to benefit India's Global Capability Centres (GCCs) as MNCs re-evaluate global workforce strategies. With a focus on smaller, outcome-driven teams and visa-agnostic environments, GCCs are becoming a cost-efficient alternative for companies looking to scale operations offshore amidst rising US hiring expenses.

Oracle's mass layoff of 20,000 employees via email on March 31, 2026, has sparked employee backlash over severance terms and WARN Act loopholes. Workers are contesting the company's offer of limited severance and the denial of accelerated stock vesting, with many feeling unfairly excluded from protections.

Meta Platforms has initiated widespread layoffs, impacting approximately 8,000 employees globally, with termination notices sent as early as 4 am in some regions. This sudden and unannounced action has drawn sharp criticism online, with many decrying the 'toxic' and 'inhumane' approach. The move follows a trend of significant job cuts across the tech industry.

Meta employees are protesting the company's new mouse-tracking software, the Model Capability Initiative (MCI), with flyers in US offices and a petition citing the National Labor Relations Act. The tool records keystrokes, clicks and screenshots to train Meta's AI agents—just days before the May 20 layoffs cutting 8,000 jobs. UK staff have also launched a unionisation drive with United Tech and Allied Workers.

Walmart is restructuring its global technology and product teams, leading to approximately 1,000 corporate employees facing layoffs or relocation. This move aims to improve efficiency by combining similar functions and aligning organizational efforts. The retail giant is also experiencing a slowdown in tech hiring, reflected in a significant reduction of H-1B visa applications.

Tech layoffs have surged past 1 lakh in 2026, impacting major firms like LinkedIn and Meta, even as companies invest heavily in AI. While mid-level and entry-level roles are cut, demand is rising for experienced engineers skilled in AI operations, maintenance, and integration. Soft skills and a proven AI track record are now crucial for securing these sought-after positions.

Over 92,000 tech jobs vanished in 2026, pushing the total since 2020 to nearly 900,000. Giants like Meta and Microsoft are cutting thousands, signaling a structural shift driven by AI efficiencies and pandemic over-hiring. Despite massive layoffs, tech titans are investing billions in AI, while startups achieve rapid growth with leaner teams, redefining business expansion in the AI era.

Engineering remains a powerful career option, but AI has changed its terms. Routine coding is getting automated, entry-level work is being compressed, and the old B.Tech-to-job promise looks less secure. The opportunity now belongs to students who combine fundamentals, AI fluency, domain understanding and judgement — not those who treat engineering as just another coding degree.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in leaked audio from an April 30 all-hands meeting, confirmed the company is tracking employee keystrokes, mouse movements, and screen activity to train its AI models—and admitted Meta deliberately withheld details to protect its competitive edge. The audio, obtained by More Perfect Union, reveals Zuckerberg justified the surveillance by saying Meta employees are smarter than outside contractors. The disclosure came days before Meta began laying off 8,000 workers.

Nvidia executive Bryan Catanzaro states AI is currently more costly than human workers. Major tech firms like Meta and Microsoft are cutting jobs while investing heavily in AI. Research shows AI is not yet cost-effective for many tasks. Experts believe this is a temporary imbalance, with AI costs expected to fall significantly by 2030.

Gen Z professionals are increasingly opting for entrepreneurship over traditional 9-to-5 jobs, driven by a competitive job market and a desire for flexibility and independence. AI tools and lower living costs in emerging hubs are facilitating this shift, with many young founders finding self-employment more fulfilling than waiting for formal recruitment.

Google DeepMind UK employees are forming the world's first union at a frontier AI lab to protest the company's AI deal with the US government. Workers aim to halt the use of Google's AI tools by the US Department of War and the Israeli military, seeking to reinstate ethical commitments and gain a voice in company decisions.

AI adoption is reshaping the job market, with significant tech job cuts reported and AI capable of performing a substantial portion of the US labor market's work. While AI automates tasks rather than eliminating entire jobs, younger workers in entry-level roles are disproportionately affected.