Casualties Mounting: 92,000 Tech Workers Hit by Layoffs in AI-Driven Crisis

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - A wave of layoffs in the technology sector continues unabated. The latest development comes from Mark Zuckerberg’s company, Meta, which has announced plans to lay off around 8,000 of its employees. These layoffs will be implemented gradually, cutting approximately 10% of the global workforce, with the first round beginning on 20 May 2026. In addition, plans to fill around 6,000 vacant positions have reportedly been scrapped. This mass efficiency drive is also expected to be followed by another tech giant, Microsoft, which is offering voluntary early retirement to its employees. According to CNBC International, the total layoffs from Meta and Microsoft are estimated to reach around 20,000 people. The actions by these technology companies have sparked concerns, confirming that a labour crisis driven by artificial intelligence (AI) has arrived. This follows the rapid spread of AI in American companies. At the same time, tech giants are aggressively investing in strengthening their AI infrastructure. Moreover, companies are still undergoing adjustments or streamlining after the massive hiring during the Covid-19 pandemic. CNBC International reports data from layoffs.fyi showing that the total number of tech sector layoffs has exceeded 92,000 workers. This figure covers the period from the start of 2026 up to this week. Overall, since 2020, the number has nearly reached 900,000 tech workers. “This is a fundamental structural shift, not just a temporary market correction,” said Anthony Tuggle, an executive coach and leadership expert who previously worked in AI, quoted from CNBC International on Saturday (25/4/2026). “We are witnessing the beginning of a permanent transformation in how work is organised and executed across various industries,” he added. The creation and loss of jobs in the AI era are said to be widening. A 2026 study by Motion Recruitment shows that AI adoption is slowing recruitment for entry-level positions and “general IT roles,” while AI positions are in high demand. Salaries in the technology field have largely remained stagnant compared to 2025, except for certain specialised roles like AI engineers, according to the report.