Samwise High Tech Recruiting Newsletter
Thursday, August 13, 2026
2026 Tech Layoff Rate Hits 783 Per Day, Ahead of Last Year’s Full-Year Average
U.S. tech companies have logged 529 layoff events in 2026, displacing 175,356 workers at a pace of 783 per day through mid-August, according to TrueUp’s live tech layoff tracker. The daily rate exceeds 2025, when 783 layoff events across the full year affected 245,953 workers at an average of 674 per day. TrueUp’s tracker spans companies from early-stage startups to large publicly traded technology firms and updates continuously as new layoffs are announced. The 2026 data underscores an accelerating pace of workforce reductions across the technology industry compared to the prior year.
264,000 Tech Positions Remain Open at Top Startups and Big Tech as of August 13
Despite widespread tech industry layoffs, TrueUp’s live job database shows 264,675 open positions available at top startups and big tech companies as of August 13, 2026. TrueUp continuously scans job postings across the technology sector, providing real-time updates as companies post and fill open roles. The figure underscores that active hiring continues in the technology industry even as other areas cut workers. TrueUp also maintains an AI Talent Wars tracker, monitoring hiring competition between AI companies and established tech firms for specialized engineering and machine learning talent in the current market.
Blacksmith Raises $45M at $550M Valuation as AI Code Generation Drives Testing Demand
AI code testing startup Blacksmith has raised a $45 million Series B at a $550 million valuation — nearly 10 times its $60 million valuation from roughly a year ago — as demand for software validation tools surges alongside AI coding adoption. The round was led by Peak XV Partners, with participation from GV and Y Combinator. Founded in 2024, Blacksmith now serves more than 5,000 customers, up from 700 less than a year ago, and has grown its workforce from 10 to approximately 30 employees. CEO Aditya Jayaprakash said some customers now spend more than $1 million annually on the platform.
Sources: TechCrunch
Anthropic Engineers Earn Up to $1.25M as AI Company Pay Reaches New Highs
Software engineers at leading AI companies are commanding exceptional total compensation, according to salary benchmarking data updated August 13, 2026 on Levels.fyi. Anthropic software engineers report ranges of $367,000 to $1.25 million-plus in total pay; Netflix software engineers range from $215,000 to over $1.14 million. Google Site Reliability Engineers command $193,000 to $792,000-plus, and Apple Solution Architects earn $201,000 to $661,000-plus. Levels.fyi tracks reported compensation data across roles at major tech companies. The figures reflect the widening premium for technical talent at AI-focused and top-tier employers as demand for specialized skills intensifies.
Sources: Levels.fyi
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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