New Delhi, April 23 -- As companies around the world accelerate automation and adopt artificial intelligence (AI) tools, layoffs have shifted from speculation to reality. Thousands of professionals who once considered their careers stable are now navigating sudden unemployment.

The scale is significant. Layoffs.fyi data shows that 97 technology companies eliminated over 81,000 roles globally in the first quarter of 2026 alone. In March, Oracle announced 30,000 job cuts worldwide, with a third of those roles based in India. Amazon, Meta, and Salesforce have also announced reductions this year.

Closer home, Tata Consultancy Services laid off 12,000 employees in fiscal 2026, while startups Livspace, Flipkart, and Zupee together cut around ...