Tech layoffs surge as AI restructuring hits 129,000 jobs in 2026

More than 6,300 technology jobs have been eliminated globally in the first week of September 2026, as major companies accelerate restructuring efforts driven by cost discipline, AI investment and a push for leaner operations.

Uber ↘ 2.80% announced on September 2 that it would cut approximately 3,300 positions, roughly 10% of its global workforce, in its largest round of layoffs since the Covid-19 pandemic. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told employees in an internal memo that the company is removing management layers, simplifying teams and revising its global location strategy. The savings are expected to fund investments in AI and autonomous vehicle technology as the company navigates growing competition from robotaxi services, according to USA Today and TechCrunch. In India, between 200 and 250 Uber employees were affected across functions and offices.moneycontrol+3

PayPal's Global Restructuring

PayPal ↘ 1.90% is cutting jobs across multiple countries as part of a broader restructuring plan targeting roughly $1.5 billion in savings over the coming years. The Jerusalem Post reported that 70 employees were laid off from PayPal's 300-person workforce in Israel, affecting a Tel Aviv development center that builds AI systems for fraud detection and transaction analysis. PayPal clarified to India Today that 220 employees in India, about 4% of its local teams, were impacted as of August 31. The company also filed a WARN notice for 251 permanent layoffs at its San Jose headquarters, scheduled to take effect on October 30. Ireland saw 164 layoffs as part of the same initiative.indiatoday+2

Apple and Oracle Reshape Workforces

Apple ↘ 0.28% last month cut more than 200 positions across teams working on Siri, Vision Pro and related software, according to Bloomberg. About 100 roles were eliminated from the Vision Pro organization, where Apple has scaled back its gaming team and immersive video operations, while another 100 came from Siri and software teams as the company rebuilds its voice assistant around a new AI architecture.timesnownews+1

Oracle ↘ 0.55% may be preparing another round of cuts. Business Insider reported in August that the company could eliminate between 7,000 and 10,000 jobs globally. Employees had been watching September 1 for announcements, but that date passed without confirmed mass layoffs. Attention has since shifted to mid-September, with September 14 and 15 emerging as possible dates. Oracle already reduced its workforce by roughly 21,000 employees in the year ending May 2026, bringing its headcount to about 141,000. The company recorded $1.8 billion in restructuring expenses during its last fiscal year.firstpost+1

According to Layoffs.fyi, nearly 129,500 tech employees across 296 companies have lost their jobs in 2026.indiatoday