Tech Workers Flock to Blind After 150,000 Layoffs Since 2022
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 19
Tech Workers Flock to Blind After 150,000 Layoffs Since 2022
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 19
Blind has become a key outlet for tech employees to anonymously trade layoff information, vent about job insecurity and seek advice on surviving cuts.
More than 150,000 layoffs across large tech companies since 2022 — with AI replacement fears rising — have upended the industry's old sense of stability and employability.
This year alone, Amazon has signaled more than 15,000 cuts, while Block plans 4,000, Meta 8,000 and Oracle an estimated 30,000.
Workers interviewed by the Times said the downturn has chilled office culture, weakening cooperation and trust between employees and managers.
Blind, launched in North America in 2015 as a career-gossip forum, has shifted from status and lifestyle talk to darker conversations about disposability and survival.
As companies trade human teams for AI, who truly profits from this massive industry transformation?
With meritocracy dead in Big Tech, what new rules must employees follow to survive?
Are tech giants truly building an AI future or just using 'AI washing' to hide their mistakes?
Tech Layoffs Top 500,000 (2022–2026): How AI and Automation Are Redefining the Workforce
Overview
Since 2022, the tech industry has faced an unprecedented wave of layoffs, driven by significant restructuring and a reevaluation of strategies after a period of rapid growth. The initial surge in job cuts became clear in early 2023, with quarterly layoffs surpassing 160,000 and the total exceeding 260,000 by the end of that year. This widespread reduction followed an overhiring spree during the COVID-19 pandemic, when companies expanded quickly to meet soaring demand. As the industry adapts, these layoffs highlight deep changes in workforce needs and ongoing challenges for tech workers.