Salesforce reduced its customer support team by nearly 50%. Meta planned two rounds of layoffs, executed one, and canceled the other abruptly. Klarna and Ford rehired workers previously replaced by AI systems. Despite these moves, by year-end, Salesforce posted its largest headcount ever, and overall tech employment numbers did not decline significantly. This suggests layoffs were often temporary or strategic rather than permanent eliminations. Key factors include: Paycheck stagnation: Workers experienced little to no salary increases despite rising living costs. Reduced entry-level hiring: Graduate and junior role openings diminished, delaying career entry for many.