Layoffs are the new norm — but this tech company is hiring 50,000 in India anyway

The tech industry’s AI moment is increasingly becoming a story of contrasts. On one side are sweeping job cuts, often justified as necessary to fund automation and future technologies. On the other are companies quietly expanding their workforce, betting that humans, not just machines, will define the next phase of growth.

The latest reminder came from Oracle, which has reportedly slashed around 30,000 jobs globally in one of the largest layoff rounds the sector has seen. The move, tied to restructuring and a deeper push into cloud and AI infrastructure, reflects how aggressively companies are reshaping themselves for an AI-first world.

Yet, even as parts of the industry contract, others are moving in the opposite direction.

Deloitte to hire around 50,000 employees in India amid AI push

Deloitte is charting a notably different course. Instead of shrinking its workforce, the firm has announced plans to hire around 50,000 professionals in India, positioning the country as a key hub for its future growth, reports MoneyControl.

The hiring drive is closely tied to Deloitte’s increasing focus on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. However, the emphasis is not on replacing human workers with machines, but on equipping employees to work alongside them.

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According to its South Asia leadership, the goal is to prepare the workforce for more complex, higher-value tasks that AI can enable. Chief Operating Officer Nitin Kini has stressed that the conversation should shift away from job losses and towards skill transformation, according to the MoneyControl report.

The company has already trained roughly 30,000 employees in AI-related capabilities and is expanding access to internal platforms that integrate these tools into everyday workflows. Structured training programmes are also being rolled out to ensure employees can adapt to rapidly changing demands.

Deloitte’s approach reflects a longer-term investment mindset. The firm continues to allocate nearly 9 per cent of its revenue towards training, innovation and capability building, signalling a commitment to workforce development rather than reduction.

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Tech layoffs 2026: AI shift triggers widespread job cuts

The scale of layoffs across the tech sector this year highlights how deeply AI is reshaping workforce strategies. Leading the wave is Oracle, which has reportedly cut around 30,000 jobs globally in one of the largest single-day layoffs in tech history, as it doubles down on cloud and AI infrastructure.

Amazon followed with approximately 16,000 layoffs earlier in the year, part of multiple rounds of cuts as it recalibrates after pandemic-era expansion. The company also trimmed roles in its robotics division, signalling a broader effort to streamline operations.

Hardware giant Dell reduced its workforce by around 11,000 roles, focusing on cost control while limiting external hiring. Similarly, Atlassian eliminated roughly 1,600 roles, with leadership acknowledging that AI is reshaping skill requirements.

At Meta, layoffs have come in waves. The company reduced about 10 per cent of its Reality Labs division in January and followed up with further cuts across teams in March. Meanwhile, Block, led by Jack Dorsey, cut 4,000 jobs, attributing the move partly to the growing role of “intelligence tools” within the company.

Other firms have taken similar steps. Epic Games cut over 1,000 jobs amid declining engagement and rising costs tied to Fortnite.

Across these companies, the reasons vary, from restructuring and cost control to a more direct pivot towards AI-driven operations. What ties them together, however, is a shared belief that the workforce of the future will look very different from today’s.