The tech job market continues to show contrasting signals as we enter the second quarter of 2025. This week’s developments reveal both significant challenges through ongoing layoffs and promising opportunities in specific sectors. Our update focuses on the most recent news affecting job seekers in the technology industry.
Layoffs: Restructuring continues
Automattic (WordPress) Cuts 16% of Workforce
In one of the most significant tech layoffs announced this week, Automatic, the company behind WordPress.com, Tumblr, WooCommerce, and other online services, announced on April 2 that it will cut 16% of its workforce across departments. Based on the company’s previously reported 1,744 employees, this restructuring will impact more than 270 staff members.
Canva Reduces Technical Writers
The Australian design software company Canva has reportedly let go of 10-12 technical writers, approximately nine months after telling employees to use generative AI tools wherever possible. The company, valued at $26 billion after a secondary stock sale in 2024, appears to be implementing AI-driven efficiency measures that are directly impacting content creation roles.
Tech Layoffs Maintaining Pace
The pace of tech layoffs in 2025 continues to be concerning. According to TrueUp’s tracker, 214 companies have laid off 42,646 tech workers so far this year, averaging 449 people per day.
While these numbers suggest a slight decrease from 2024’s total of 238,461, they still represent significant disruption for tech professionals in the first quarter of the year.
INdustry shifts and hiring trends
AI Replacing Some Roles, Creating OthersTo Thrive
A clear pattern has emerged where companies are simultaneously cutting traditional positions while investing in AI-focused roles. For example, Salesforce laid off over 1,000 employees in February 2025 to focus on their primary AI offering, Agentforce, while announcing they would be undertaking a hiring spree specifically for sales roles to support AI initiatives.[ Source: Salesforce Ben ]
Mixed Signals on Hiring Plans
The tech job market is sending seemingly contradictory signals. According to Robert Half’s latest data, 58% of tech leaders plan to hire for new full-time roles in 2025. However, a report cited by Toggl Hire indicates that 45% of companies will likely lay off employees this year.
Companies like Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Salesforce, and Google are announcing job cuts, while simultaneously hiring in AI, machine learning, and automation, signaling a major shift, according to a recent industry analysis by The HR Digest.
For job seekers, this mixed message underscores the importance of skills development in high-growth areas while remaining flexible about potential employment models.
where the Opportunities are
Upcoming April Tech Career Fairs
Several significant tech career events are scheduled for April 2025:
- New York Tech Career Fair (April 25, 2025): This virtual event will connect candidates with hiring partners from fast-growing startups and Fortune 500 companies in technology, with a focus on helping companies achieve their diversity and inclusivity initiatives.
- Women in Technology Spring Job Fair (April 6, 2025): This in-person event at NRECA connects employers in the Washington, D.C. area with qualified job applicants across all skill levels of information technology. [ Event Details ]
These events provide valuable opportunities to connect directly with recruiters and hiring managers from companies that are actively looking to fill positions despite the broader market uncertainty.
2025 Internship Opportunities
For students and early-career professionals, internship applications for Summer 2025 are currently open at many major tech companies. These opportunities provide valuable experience and often serve as pathways to full-time employment.
According to Levels.fyi, 56% of interns receive full-time offers, with conversion rates exceeding 70% at some companies. Candidates should begin applying as early as possible, as many companies fill their intern quotas by December for the following summer.
Internship Listings
- Intern List: Intern-list.com has emerged as a valuable resource for students seeking internship opportunities. The site provides hourly updates tracking the latest internship openings in the United States, aggregating data from over 200,000 company career sites and major job boards.
- SimplifyJobs/Summer2025-Internships: This repository, maintained collaboratively by the Pitt Computer Science Club and Simplify, provides an extensive list of software, tech, CS, PM, and quant internships for Summer 2025.
- arunike/Summer-2025-Internship-List: This detailed tracker currently lists 3,547 internship positions (987 open and 2,560 closed) with comprehensive information including hourly pay rates when available, locations, application links, and status updates.
These collaborative resources are regularly updated by the community and provide real-time information on available opportunities.
Other Internships
NASA Internships: NASA has announced application deadlines for its upcoming internship cycles. For those interested in Fall 2025 internships, applications must be submitted by May 16, 2025. [ Source: NASA ]
NASA’s internship programs are highly regarded and provide students with the opportunity to work alongside research scientists, engineers, and other professionals across various disciplines. Despite common misconceptions, NASA offers opportunities beyond engineering, including in IT, business management, and many other fields.
Strategic Moves for Job Seekers
Staying Competitive
In today’s competitive job market, having a tailored application strategy is essential. Upplai’s suite of AI powered tools can help you navigate these challenges:
- Resume Gap Analysis: Identify missing skills and qualifications to target your learning and development efforts effectively.
- Resume Optimization: Our AI tools ensure your resume highlights the right keywords and experiences for each application, significantly improving your chances of passing ATS and recruiter screenings.
- Cover Letter Generation: Create compelling, personalized cover letters tailored to specific job descriptions to further improve your interview chances 1.9X.
- Job Application Tracker: Organize your applications, access saved job descriptions, and streamline interview preparation.
Looking Ahead
As the tech industry continues to evolve rapidly in 2025, job seekers must remain adaptable and strategic. The simultaneous occurrence of layoffs and new hiring in specialized areas creates both challenges and opportunities.
Those who focus on developing in-demand skills, particularly in AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, and cloud computing, will find themselves well-positioned despite broader market uncertainty. Leveraging resources like Upplai’s ATS checker and resume optimization tools, internship tracking repositories, and attending industry events can provide crucial advantages in this competitive landscape.