SAN JOSE, California — Bay Area technology companies have eliminated about 10,900 jobs in the first six months of 2026, more than doubling the 4,700 positions cut during the same period in 2025 and already surpassing the full-year 2025 total of 10,170, according to state employment data.
The figures, reported by the California Employment Development Department and analyzed by the Mercury News, paint a picture of a deepening contraction in the region's signature industry. The pace of layoffs has accelerated markedly — the first half of 2026 alone has outpaced all of last year's cuts, and the year is on track for totals not seen since the early-pandemic downturn.
Among the latest disclosures, Cisco Systems plans to eliminate 471 positions in the Bay Area — 236 in San Jose, 154 in Milpitas, and 81 in San Francisco — effective July 13. Bill.com, also headquartered in San Jose, disclosed a reduction of 129 positions scheduled for August 24.
The layoffs span an array of major tech employers. Earlier this year, Meta slashed 8,000 jobs, Oracle cut more than 500 Bay Area positions as part of a global reduction of roughly 30,000 workers, and LinkedIn and Amazon also disclosed local cuts. Many firms have cited the shift toward artificial intelligence as a driver of restructuring — automating roles while hiring for new AI-focused positions.
