The tech industry continues to face turbulent times in 2025, with over 95,000 U.S.-based workers losing their jobs so far this year, according to the latest data from Crunchbase News. This staggering figure reflects a persistent wave of layoffs that began in 2024 and shows no signs of slowing down as companies pivot to new priorities like artificial intelligence (AI) and cost efficiency.
Among the recent casualties, New York-based startup Retrain.ai, a human resources platform leveraging AI, announced the layoff of 20 employees and the closure of its operations. Founded in 2020, the company raised $34 million in funding but is now seeking to sell its technology. This move highlights the irony of an AI-focused firm downsizing amid the industry's broader push toward automation.
Similarly, Vancouver-based Klue, an AI-powered competitive enablement platform, slashed 40% of its global workforce as part of a restructuring to become an "AI-first" operation. While the exact number of U.S.-based employees affected remains unclear, this decision underscores the growing trend of tech firms reorganizing around AI technologies, often at the expense of human capital.
For the week ending July 9, 2025, Crunchbase News tallied at least 9,245 tech sector layoffs in the U.S. alone. This figure adds to the mounting job cuts across both industry giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, as well as smaller startups struggling to adapt to economic pressures and technological shifts.
Industry experts suggest that the rapid adoption of AI is a double-edged sword—while it promises innovation and efficiency, it also displaces traditional roles, particularly in areas like cloud computing, DevOps, and legacy systems. Workers are increasingly anxious about job security as companies prioritize automation over expansion.
As the tech sector navigates this challenging landscape, Crunchbase News continues to track layoffs weekly, providing a comprehensive resource for understanding the scale and impact of these cuts. For those affected, the road ahead may involve reskilling or pivoting to emerging fields less impacted by automation.
Andrew Lee
