One word that was CEOs' 'favourite' and employees' 'nightmare' in 2025 across technology companies; including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Salesforce and others

In 2025, a single word dominated boardrooms from Seattle to San Francisco. The word defined the job market and struck fear into the hearts of tech workers: Efficiency. It began as a corporate motto for leaders like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy but quickly transformed into a restructuring of the global workforce. The word has been used by Big Tech giants like Google and Microsoft to the federal government as they incorporate more AI into their operations, triggering a wave of layoffs, hiring freezes and a shift in job security.

According to a report by Business Insider, “efficiency” is a strategic North Star for CEOs, sending a signal to shareholders that they are leaning into AI and streamlining over-hiring of the pandemic era. A few companies removed layers of middle management, while others automated much of their administrative tasks AI chatbots.

Job cuts in private companies and government

A bet on smaller workforce for higher profits became become ‘nightmare’ for employees. Companies like Dell, Salesforce, Microsoft, Google and Amazon have implemented cuts to balance budgets.

The government was also hit by job cuts. Following the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January, the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) launched a massive overhaul of the federal workforce. In September, news agency Reuters reported that over 150,000 federal employees left the US government payroll after accepting buyouts. This was the largest single-year exodus of civil servants in nearly 80 years

In August, rump administration human resources chief said that through a combination of buyouts, firings and other incentives for workers to quit, the government will likely shed around 300,000 workers by the end of 2025. This was followed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s aggressive tactics, including his infamous “5 things” email requiring staff to document daily productivity or face immediate resignation.

The Business Insider report also said workers are experiencing a “tenuous” job market as long-term unemployment is rising, and “quit rates” are declining as employees cling to their current roles. Other words that dominated the year were: “tariffs,” “uncertainty,” and “inflation.”