San Francisco Chronicle’s Post

Waves of tech layoffs pushed thousands of professionals to seek opportunities beyond the tech sector. So, which industries gained the most talent? Education Services led the surge, capturing over a full percentage point more tech talent than before the layoffs. Aerospace and Defense, Energy and Resources, and Financial Services also saw notable gains, reflecting a broader shift in where technical expertise is flowing. Once overshadowed by Big Tech’s allure, these sectors are now attracting talent drawn to stability or mission-driven work.

Silicon Valley layoffs deepen as three more tech companies announce job cuts Source: San Francisco Chronicle https://lnkd.in/e4ae3g6N

171,444 professionals lost their jobs in these recent layoffs. Take a moment to actually read this list: • UPS: 48,000 • Amazon: 30,000 • Intel: 24,000 • Nestle: 16,000 • Accenture: 11,000 • Ford: 11,000 • Microsoft: 7,000 • Salesforce: 4,000 And that's just the top companies. What every one of those 171,444 people had in common: They thought they were safe. The dangerous myths they believed: "UPS has been around forever" "Amazon is too big to fail" "Intel is essential to tech" "Microsoft is recession-proof" Here's what actually happened: Profitable companies making strategic cuts. Not struggling businesses. Not failing industries. Profitable. Companies. The pattern everyone's missing: This isn't about "market weakness." This is about market reality. Companies discovered they can: • Cut 10% of workforce • Maintain 95% of output • Boost stock price 20% • Blame "market conditions" Your CEO's priority list: 1. Stock price 2. Shareholders 3. Board approval 4. Maybe you (if convenient) Stop believing: • Your excellent performance protects you • Company loyalty means something • "We're a family" corporate speak • Your role is essential Start accepting: → You're a line item on a spreadsheet → Every job is temporary → The best time to leave is before you have to → Your company is already planning the next cuts The brutal math: 171,444 professionals competing for the same roles you want. All experienced. All desperate. All willing to take less. While you're sitting there feeling secure. These weren't low performers. These weren't redundant roles. These were profitable decisions. The only defense? Interview while employed. Update your resume quarterly. Know your market value constantly. Never stop networking. Because being comfortable is being vulnerable. 171,444 people learned that last week. When will you?

Watchlist Wednesday: Tech layoffs have surpassed 100,000 this year — a sobering reminder that even as innovation surges, hiring remains cautious. Even major staffing firms are restructuring to adapt. What does that mean for you? Employers are being more strategic. Job seekers need to stay agile, upskill, and lean into relationships that open doors. 👉 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ggSMEb3E #WatchlistWednesday #HiringTrends #TechIndustry #JobMarket #RecruitingNews #WorkforceInsights

With tech layoffs easing, more engineers are back on the job market — but competition is fierce. Despite a flood of applications for open roles, studies show most tech hires still come from networking, not online applications. For job seekers, that means connecting with recruiters and building professional relationships is more important than ever. For employers, it’s a reminder that great candidates may never even hit the “Apply” button. 👉 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gTAs84sR #WatchlistWednesday #TechHiring #SoftwareEngineering #RecruitingTrends #JobSearchTips #NetworkingMatters #TechCareers #SmithJohnsonTech

Tech Workers Are in Deep, Deep Trouble. A new report by the analyst firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, which tracks layoffs across various industries, found that the US tech industry had the highest number of layoffs in October of any sector, with a whopping 33,281 tech workers out of the job. https://flip.it/qcY5c1

Tech layoffs created an unexpected recruiting opportunity for other industries that previously couldn't compete with big tech's compensation packages. Education services saw the biggest jump in tech talent acquisition, followed by aerospace and defense, energy and resources, and financial services—sectors actively investing in digital transformation and data infrastructure. Industries outside tech are now increasingly capturing top tech talent to accelerate their digital transformation at scale.

October brought 33,281 tech layoffs. September had 5,639. Something fundamental shifted in the market between those months. The numbers tell a stark story. Tech firms cut 141,159 jobs in 2025 so far. That's 17% more than all of 2024. But here's what recruiting experts know: layoffs create opportunities for those who act strategically. Diana Huang from Prosum shares four game-changing strategies: 📊 Quantify everything on your resume • Replace "Managed cloud infrastructure" with "Reduced cloud spend by 15% through automation" • Show impact, not just duties 🎯 Skip the Easy Apply button • Tailor your resume with keywords from job descriptions • Make every application count 🤝 Network with purpose • Don't ask for "any opportunities" • Share specific job postings that match your goals • Build relationships with specialized IT recruiters 📝 Keep it consistent • Match your LinkedIn profile to your resume • One page for under 5 years experience • Two pages max for senior roles The market is challenging. But AI adoption and digital transformation still drive demand for skilled professionals. Your next role might be better than the one you lost. What's one strategy you'd add to this list? #TechLayoffs #ITJobs #CareerAdvice 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲꞉ https://lnkd.in/dud4CyYF

October 2025 marked the heaviest job cut month in over two decades with 153,000+ layoffs across industries, led by tech firms cutting 33,281 roles as AI adoption accelerates cost-cutting and automation. Notable layoffs include Intel shedding 24,000 jobs in a major restructure and Microsoft eliminating 9,000 roles to refocus on AI and efficiency. Yet despite the turbulence, U.S. tech hiring remains robust, with 58% of employers planning to boost headcount in Q4 2025 and 24% specifically seeking AI and digital skills talent. Demand for job-ready skills is intensifying as companies navigate this dynamic landscape. Khwajalabs empowers candidates to adapt swiftly with guided projects, AI-powered skill evaluations, and portfolios that showcase real-world readiness—helping you stand out even in an unpredictable market. Khwajalabs: where building skills meets seizing opportunity—the fastest route to job readiness today. Check out Khwajalabs.com today.

Big layoff headlines again. reset or hype? “Overhiring” can be partly rational. In high-uncertainty markets, companies sometimes hire ahead of need as a buffer (speed, reliability, optionality), then correct when capital costs increase or demand decrease. It’s NOT always right, but it isn’t foolish either, particularly in markets with low adjustment costs like the US. This week’s news fits the pattern: restructure to refocus. The human/innovation costs are real. Research shows that big layoffs hurt engagement, knowledge, and long-run performance (unless they come as part of deeper redesign, which doest appear to be the case now). Zooming out, however, it’s clear that Big Tech headcounts remain well above 2018. Even as #layoffs grab headlines, employment remains very high. Things _may_ be better than they appear. https://lnkd.in/dSEG4aH4?