Since the last time we gave an update at the beginning of the month there have been 20,171 layoffs at tech and media companies added to our Layoff Tracker. That brings the total to 58,709 tech layoffs over the past two and a half months. You can mouse over the iChart above to get a sampling of some of the companies that are downsizing.
One previously unreported layoff we have been able to confirm is 10 people at classifieds search engine Oodle, which occurred last week and represents a 20% reduction. Another layoff happened at Rearden Commerce, which trimmed about 40 people, or 10 percent (and Rearden just raised $100 million, showing that no company is immune).
The biggest layoff this month was announced just today by Sun Microsystems, which will be reducing its headcount by 5,000 to 6,000 (15 to 18 percent). Other big tech companies also announced cuts earlier this week, including Applied Materials (1,800 layoffs), Nokia Siemens Networks (750), and National Semiconductor (330).
The big tech and media companies account for the biggest number of layoffs, but when you look at the percentage of total employees being laid off, startups are cutting just as deep if not deeper. For instance earlier this month, Spot Runner cut about 30 percent of its staff (115 people), Dash Navigation eliminated 65 percent (55 people), and BitTorrent got rid of 50 percent (18 people). This past week we saw a 38 percent cut at Jobster (15 people) a 15 percent cut at Metacafe (11 people), a 10 percent cut at Current TV (40 people), and the complete shutdown of CBS Interactive’s Juke (5 people).
If you know of any layoffs at a tech company, please submit a tip with the name of the company and number of layoffs. If it’s been covered, also send a link to the blog post or news article. (For those more interested in who is hiring, check out our job board).
ebay layoff number is incorrect. It’s closer to 1500
This is really too bad, my heart goes out to all those who’ve gotten the boot. I’m shocked that even Sun, a relatively stable company, is having to layoff so many.
Sun has been laying people continuously for the last three years. The surprise here is the number of people layed off at one time and also the departure of Rich Green.
Zappos laid off 8% last week
So is it safe to assume that for Sun and Applied Materials, the bulk of the layoffs will be in the Bay Area?
Not a bubble bursting. So far I am comfortable with the pace.
This is too bad for some of these younger workers in the start ups. Dreams dashed and this is a shame.
a lot of folks losing their job. thats why i always say its better to work for yourself
Erick, for comparison, do you have any numbers on layoffs at the end of the last bubble?
Thank god I work at a startup with relatively low overhead, haha.
Wow. Even with a drop to 15% layoff, Sun still has a paltry $61,200 in MARKET CAP per employee. They need a real restructuring. Their 6 consecutive years of restructuring has done absolutely nothing.
@sv dropout — you are correct; you need to be in business for yourself. This time around, as opposed to 2001-03, flipping houses isn’t going to work as a way to keep cash flow going. Even if you are in a relatively stable job or industry, no one is immune from this downturn.
As I like to say at this point, network marketing is the new real estate.
I need to get laid.
It’s been a brutal year for layoffs, hopefully things will get better in 2009.
Friends,
Indeed it is a good time to explore being in business yourself. I want to point you to my new book, Entrepreneur Journeys (Volume One), which many discouraged people are using to get some positive momentum, inspiration, and encouragement, as well as learn the ropes of entrepreneurship if this way of life is new for you.
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Many great companies have been found during downturns and recessions. Many people have found their way into self-employment during difficult times.
Do not give up hope.
Sramana
Actually, Rearden layed off 20%, and cut salaries by 10-25%. At least 30 people that I know of are looking for new jobs.
I mean 30 Rearden employees. People will be leaving quickly.
Do the Rearden layoffs include employees at Rearden Labs?
Has Rearden Labs launched their secret media thingy yet?
Rearden Labs is unrelated to Rearden Commerce. Rearden was taken from Atlas Shrugged, which has alot of fans.
The irony is that Tech CEOs will complain that they have to offshore because they can’t find enough qualified tech workers in the US and American kids are not choosing Math and Science/Engineering training at school. Does John Chambers et al think college kids don’t see what’s happening in Silicon Valley?
i’m not remotely surprised. there has been a decade-long overinvestment in everything IT and web related that is now unwinding as the winners (google, apple, intel) scale out. with the smaller startups, i’m frankly surprised most of them just haven’t thrown in the towel entirely. besides a brief mention on TC, these companies have no visibility, no users, no hope. this industry is going to get a massive haircut, just like telco got a few years ago as it consolidated. 60k is just the start.
looks like tech workers need a bailout package. majority of these jobs are never coming back.
most should get a look at careers that out side of a keyboard. dont be afraid to get your hands dirty or having to sweat a little bit.
CareersLocator.com – live with it.
im one of the layoffs of the past few weeks- some here talk about working for oneself, of course i thought of it. but you need the right conjunction of talents to establish an enterprise most important of which is the chuztpah to scare up some cash
so many of us layed off by big corporations.
getting a job is not the problem, most tech layoffs are smart enough to get one soon enough;
viewed globally this could be a tremendous opportunity to put cross cutting teams to make new startups, if we run an optimization algorithm of talent and ideas this could be an opportunity for innovation
the trouble is that we are simply running around like ants in a flood money representing dry land.
im not very confident on your tracker..
you keep missing Avid.. 500 on oct 20-30
you also miss EA, 400 or 600 – i have the feeling if you miss layoffs that stand in the hundreds, the actual number of layoffs is much higher than you are counting
The EA and Avid layoffs are reflected in the offical Layoof Tracker if you cick through to it, but may not be in the interactive chart above which is incomplete and still being updated.
I thought Rearden raised $100mil for expansion of company this year,did they over hired or over estimate the value of the company?
Nat
http://www.workersinc.com
i heard they laid off 40% and trimmed salaries by 15%. Lots of hype and nothing else there
The sad part is that the folks that are staying on for the stock don’t realize that it has become so diluted that it’s virtually worthless. Patrick Grady, who openly laughs about “recapping” his employees out of their hard earned options, has set up only himself and his VC buddies to make out if and when an exit happens (which now looks unlikely).
yes, you are totally right. Now it seems even more likely that they are strapped for cash. My guess there would be a few more round of layoffs and they would go back to their original strength before all this hiring frenzy.
I am so happy. People harvesting should stop. Companies like Sun harvest people they like, but have no vision or mission in sight.
@Sramana Mitra
Would you stop spamming. Nobody reads your blog nowadays. Its full of crap. Go back to India.
We’ve hired half a dozen in the past month. Can hirings counter-act?
I just want to let you know about this new startupsthat is still under Testing.It is coming out with more latest features.
The start up is http://www.linkdem.com
Sun has botched the software business pre 2000 when they all but handed the market to BEA. Since then they have been a non factor in the market.
IBM should buy Sun to silence the nuisance that has affected a few of their larger contracts. Global Services makes more money off Sun hardware sales than Sun does via their consulting engagements.
Sun 2008 = Netscape 1998