71,000 tech layoffs in 2026 already, are you next? Ankur Warikoo shares 3 warning signs to look out for and 5 ways to secure your job

The tech world has rarely felt this uncertain. Layoffs, restructuring, and silent team cuts have become part of everyday workplace conversations, leaving even stable employees questioning how secure their roles really are. Against this backdrop of rising anxiety, entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo recently shared a detailed breakdown of early warning signs that could signal job risk, along with practical steps employees can take to protect themselves before it is too late.

Ankur Warikoo took to LinkedIn and highlighted that there have already been over 71,000 tech layoffs in 2026, and the year is only a few months in. He used this context to outline patterns employees should not ignore if they want to stay ahead of sudden workforce changes.

Red flag 1: Sidelining

He first pointed to a situation where an employee’s work starts getting sidelined. According to Warikoo, one of the earliest signals of risk is when responsibilities quietly begin shifting away. Tasks get reassigned to others, the employee is left out of important meetings or projects, and overall visibility within the organisation starts to reduce. This gradual distancing, he implied, often signals a declining role within the company structure.

Red flag 2: Lack of investment in employees' growth

The second warning sign he highlighted relates to a manager’s lack of investment in an employee’s growth. When promotions or appraisals are repeatedly delayed without clarity, when conversations around career progression stop happening, or when communication from managers becomes inconsistent, it may indicate disengagement from the employee’s long-term future in the organisation. Warikoo noted that silence in such areas is often more telling than formal feedback.

Red flag 3: Team size shrinking

The third signal he mentioned is organisational in nature. When employees begin leaving but are not replaced, team sizes shrink and workloads quietly increase. In such cases, one person may end up doing the work of multiple roles. Alongside this, companies may introduce sudden cost-cutting measures or stricter return-to-office policies. Warikoo suggested that these shifts often reflect deeper structural or financial recalibration within the organisation.