Learning from this January’s layoffs

It’s becoming something of a tradition for companies to ring in the new year with a wave of layoffs. In 2024, as in 2023, workforce reduction has been a major theme in the tech sector and beyond for January.As technologies such as AI take root, the nature and pace of layoffs is likely to change in the near future. Competing pressures of economic downturns and productivity shortfalls could change the tech workforce dramatically.In this episode, Jane and Rory are joined by Ross Kelly, ITPro’s news and analysis editor, to discuss the latest wave of tech sector layoffs, how they compare to previous years, and what this means for the future.Read more:Tech layoffs in 2024 show the ‘year of efficiency’ is here to stay, it just won't be quite as ruthlessCloudflare employee’s viral dismissal video offers a stark glimpse into the human cost of layoffsSundar Pichai’s “ambitious goals” for Google in 2024 rest on yet more layoffs as firm cuts hundreds of jobsThe reality of mass AI-linked job cuts is hereIBM’s CEO just said the quiet part out loud on AI-related job lossesIBM CEO in damage control mode after AI job loss commentsOnce again, PayPal starts the year with another round of job cutsWhat’s behind the wave of big tech layoffs in 2023?Microsoft seeks to ward off potential union action over AI job risksWith AI on the rise, is it time to join a union?First Microsoft union formed by ZeniMax workersThe tech industry needs to unionise now more than ever