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Tech Layoffs — What’s Next for IT Professionals?

Overview: Why the headlines are so loud — what is really happening

In 2024 and 2025, there have been big layoffs in the tech world. News headlines show big numbers because many large companies let people go at the same time. While the numbers look worrying, it helps to understand that some cuts were needed for companies to save costs quickly, but others reflect bigger changes in how companies work and what skills they want most.

After the pandemic, tech companies hired a lot as everyone moved online. When things started to slow down, companies began reviewing what teams and roles they really needed. At the same time, new technologies like automation and artificial intelligence began to change jobs. Many companies restructured teams, some roles disappeared, and new ones appeared. Most of the high layoff numbers are because companies are still adjusting how they work and what skills matter now.

Layoff numbers in 2024 and 2025

Reports show that more than 150,000 tech workers lost their jobs in 2024. In 2025, by November, that number is already over 100,000. Some sources count more, especially if you include all types of companies and jobs. The true number depends on how you count, but there is no doubt the numbers are higher than normal.

Keep in mind, different trackers count layoffs differently — some only show big companies, some also count smaller cuts. But the main story is clear: many roles at large and mid-size tech firms were cut, especially where teams had grown very fast earlier.

Main reasons for layoffs

Tech companies cut jobs for a few simple reasons:

  • Cuts to save money: When the economy slows or profits drop, companies reduce staff to control costs.
  • AI and automation: New technology can now do some jobs, especially repetitive or simple work. This means fewer people are needed for those roles.
  • Too much hiring before: Many companies hired very fast in 2021–2022. After things slowed, some roles were no longer needed, so companies reduced their size.
  • Focus on specialist roles: Companies now want people with deep skills — like cloud, cybersecurity, or data — rather than generalists.
  • Changing customer needs: As business priorities change, firms invest more in new technology areas, like AI, and less in slow-growth products.

What this means for Bangalore

Bangalore is still India’s top city for tech jobs. Even when some firms cut people, others are hiring at the same time. Most who lose jobs in Bangalore find work again, especially if they move into high-demand roles. The mix of startups, big tech firms, fintech, health tech, and IT services keeps Bangalore busy for hiring.

For people in Bangalore, this means two things: keep learning new skills, and make your work and skills visible online. Demand is still high for cloud engineers, data specialists, cybersecurity experts, and product managers. Hiring moves up and down, but the need for top talent is always strong.

Important numbers for 2025

- Over 150,000 tech layoffs worldwide in 2024.
- By late 2025, more than 100,000 tech workers have lost jobs due to layoffs, just in major tech companies.
- Bangalore has over 30,000 open tech jobs at any time, showing strong ongoing demand.

Simple roadmap to survive and move forward

Here’s a step-by-step plan for anyone who loses a job or worries about one:

Step 1: Take a pause and handle basics (Week 1)

  • Take a short break to process what happened; talk to friends or family if you need support.
  • Sort out money: check your savings, your exit package, and what help your company offers.
  • Write down jobs you could do based on your skills and what is in demand now.

Step 2: Review and update your skills (Week 2–3)

  • Make two lists: skills you already have, and new skills you should learn.
  • Pick one skill that is in big demand now — like cloud, Python, or security — and take a beginner course.
  • Set a small goal: learn basics in a month or finish one project.

Step 3: Build a project to show (Week 3–8)

A small project can help you stand out. For example:

  • Cloud: Set up a simple website using AWS or GCP, and show how you keep it safe and online.
  • Data: Make a basic dashboard from a public data set.
  • Security: Review a demo website and write a short checklist of security fixes.

Step 4: Improve your resume and LinkedIn (Week 7–10)

  • Show results in your past work, like "Reduced costs by 30%" or "Improved speed by 2x”.
  • Add your latest project and share a link if possible.
  • Ask old teammates for recommendations.

Step 5: Start applying and networking (Week 9 onward)

  • Reach out to friends, old colleagues, or join meetups in your city.
  • Apply for a few roles that are a good fit. Quality is better than quantity.
  • Try freelance or short contract jobs if you need quick income.

Step 6: Prepare for interviews

  • Practice common interview questions with friends.
  • Be ready to explain your projects and how they helped a business.
  • Check salary data so you can speak confidently about pay.

Best jobs to aim for in 2025 and 2026

  • Cloud Engineer — skills: AWS, GCP, Azure, Terraform.
  • SRE — monitoring, system design.
  • Data Engineer — SQL, Spark, ETL pipelines.
  • ML Engineer — deploying and monitoring models.
  • Security Engineer — network and cloud security, threat analysis.
  • Full Stack Developer — any main language like Java, Go, Node.js.
  • Product Manager — understand metrics and work well with teams.
  • DevOps Engineer — CI/CD, automation.

Switching roles: how to move sideways

You can also find work faster by shifting into a role that uses part of your past experience. For example:

  • Manual tester moving into automated testing.
  • Support engineer moving to cloud support roles.
  • Web developer picking up basic data engineering skills.

Freelance and contract work

While searching for a main job, consider freelance work or short contracts. This adds to your experience and keeps your income steady. Websites like Upwork and Toptal often have projects in cloud, security, or development.

Bangalore: where to look for jobs

  • Company career pages — search for Bangalore or India jobs.
  • LinkedIn — use keywords like “cloud Bangalore”.
  • Local meetups — many share jobs directly.
  • Training partners — pick ones with hands-on projects, not just exams.

Longer term: building a strong career (1–3 years)

For stability, focus on a specialization for a few years, finish a few solid projects, and aim for bigger roles. Roles that mix tech and business, or cross into data, product, or cloud, stay in demand no matter what changes.

Interview tips for Bangalore

  • Show how your work made a difference.
  • Bring one well-made project to show in interviews.
  • Be ready to talk about decisions you made and why.
  • Practice technical interview problems with time limits.

Case studies: real people, real progress

Case 1: QA to SRE in 6 months

One mid-level tester spent six months learning basic scripting and cloud, built a demo setup, and landed a Site Reliability Engineer job after making a visible project.

Case 2: Support to Cloud Cost Specialist in 90 days

A support engineer learned how to save money on AWS, made a short report, and moved to a better-paying job focused on cloud cost savings.

Staying healthy and managing money

  • Try to keep some emergency savings if you can.
  • Ask your professional network about openings before they go public.
  • Take short breaks; this helps you stay sharp and learn quickly.

How hiring is changing

Companies now prefer people who can show real projects, not just certificates. Some firms help staff move into new teams or pay for re-training. If your company offers to teach you something new, think about taking it — you can move to a growing team without leaving the firm.

Helping workers: what governments and schools can do

When many people lose jobs together, community and government support matters. Local programs for re-training, easy access to certifications, and job matching can help people get new jobs faster.

Final words

Layoffs are tough, but tech jobs are not vanishing. The focus is now on newer skills, like cloud, security, and data. If you keep growing your skills, build small projects, and connect with your network, you can move into good, stable work — especially in a city like Bangalore.

Sources: Layoff trackers (Layoffs.fyi, Trueup), industry news, and Bangalore tech job portals in 2024–2025.