Samwise High Tech Recruiting Newsletter
Saturday, July 4, 2026
Tech accounts for nearly a third of US layoffs in the first half of 2026, Challenger finds
The technology sector accounted for nearly a third of all U.S. job cuts in the first half of 2026, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Tech companies announced 139,156 layoffs through June, up 83% from 76,214 in the same period last year. AI has been the leading reason for job cuts for a fourth consecutive month in June, cited in 101,743 announcements — about 23% of all layoffs — so far this year. “Tech remains the epicenter of this year’s cuts,” said Andy Challenger, the firm’s chief revenue officer. “AI is the dominant force as companies restructure around it, automating roles and reallocating budgets toward new capabilities.”
Rising ‘bring your own AI’ trend can spell trouble for employers, expert warns
More than three in four U.S. employees are sourcing AI tools on their own — a trend called “bring your own AI” — because employers are failing to provide the resources workers need, according to a May survey of 1,020 employed adults released by resume platform Resume Now. Twenty-three percent use personally sourced AI tools daily, and 41% say they are not receiving the tools, training, or guidance to use AI at work. Only 21% have received clear AI guidelines specific to their role. “Operating without guardrails, official tools, or proper training is a recipe for security headaches and wildly inconsistent work quality,” said Keith Spencer, a career expert.
Labor market remains in ‘slack water’ state, economist says
The U.S. labor market gained just 57,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, well below private-sector projections. The unemployment rate fell to 4.2%, largely because the labor participation rate declined. April and May payrolls were also revised down by a combined 74,000. “That is a fair description of the labor market right now,” said Laura Ullrich, director of economic research at Indeed Hiring Lab, applying the nautical term “slack water” to describe the stagnation. “It would not take much — a modest rise in layoffs, or a few more workers deciding to quit — to pull the net negative,” Ullrich added.
HR is still ‘experimenting at the margins’ on AI, report says
HR departments are still adapting to artificial intelligence rather than redesigning how work gets done, according to a new report from the Institute for Corporate Productivity. After surveying more than 1,300 business and HR leaders worldwide, i4cp researchers found that while workplaces are moving past “isolated AI use cases,” implementation remains a “series of disconnected experiments.” “Most HR functions are still experimenting at the margins rather than redesigning how work actually gets done,” said Katheryn Brekken, i4cp senior research analyst. Firms with a strong AI culture report the technology has enhanced HR’s impact at a rate 4.5 times higher than other organizations, the research found.
Outsourced ADA accommodations can be ‘inherently problematic,’ EEOC attorney cautions
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission cautioned that outsourcing accommodation requests to third-party administrators is “inherently problematic” after settling an Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit against JCPenney for $99,000. The EEOC alleged JCPenney’s third-party benefits administrator “inexplicably” closed the written accommodation request of a warehouse worker with breast cancer; the employee was fired after exceeding attendance limits while off for cancer treatment. “Employers’ use of third-party administrators to handle reasonable accommodations can be inherently problematic, especially when not effectively monitored,” said Marcus Keegan, regional attorney for EEOC’s Atlanta district. Under the settlement, JCPenney must train managers on ADA responsibilities and institute new processes for monitoring its TPA.
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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