First husband, then wife lose their tech jobs in US, newborn baby at home and healthcare coverage worries. Heartbreaking post highlights growing anxiety among tech workers

Canva's latest layoffs and restructuing has added to the growing uncertainty in the global technology sector. Thousands of professionals are facing job losses as tech companies are restructuring and changing workforce plans amid the rise of AI. While many employees have begun to start looking for job opportunities, according to Layoffs.fyi, more than 1,35,000 tech employees have lost their jobs in 2026 alone, already exceeding last year's total.

Amid these layoffs, a heartbreaking story shared by Ha Nguyen, a founder and managing partner has highlighted the personal struggles behind the numbers, including a couple in the US who both lost their tech jobs while caring for their newborn baby.

Canva layoffs add to growing tech job losses in 2026

Canva recently announced a restructuring that will affect 22% of its workforce. The development has renewed conversations about the impact of AI on employment, as advanced models increasingly perform tasks that once required specialised tools and skills.


Reacting to the development, Ha Nguyen shared a post highlighting how difficult the current job market has become for technology professionals. Nguyen also praised Canva CEO Melanie Perkins for her communication with employees during the restructuring. Comparing her approach with Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky's response to mass layoffs during the pandemic, Nguyen described both as examples of people-first leadership.

Referring to Airbnb's decision to lay off 25% of its workforce during the pandemic, Nguyen said that a company's responsibility towards employees should not end when their employment does.

Tech couple in US lose jobs, newborn baby at home

Sharing an experience that particularly affected her, Nguyen revealed that she had received an email from a product manager in her professional network who had recently lost her job.

The situation was even more difficult because her husband had also been laid off shortly before her. The couple have a newborn baby at home and are now worried about their family's healthcare coverage.

According to Nguyen, the woman needs to find another job soon or risk losing healthcare coverage for her family. "I could feel the desperation in her words. And it broke my heart," Nguyen wrote. She added that such messages were becoming more common and raised concerns about how the laid-off employees would manager their life and finaces along with career amid layoffs.

More than 135,000 tech employees lose jobs in 2026

As per Layoffs.fyi, Nguyen shared that more than 1,35,000 tech employees had been laid off in 2026 alone, already surpassing the previous year's total. She also suggested that the actual number could be higher.

Wondering where the affected professionals would go next, Nguyen pointed out that while some might find new jobs in technology, others could turn to entrepreneurship or gig work. Some might even have to leave the industry altogether.

She also highlighted the emotional impact of losing a job after investing years in a company. Behind every layoff figure, she noted, is someone struggling to pay a mortgage, support a family, start a career or rebuild their confidence. Nguyen urged people to support those affected by offering job referrals, sharing opportunities, reviewing resumes and helping them prepare for interviews.

She also called on company leaders to follow the examples of Melanie Perkins and Brian Chesky, stressing that compassionate leadership matters most when difficult decisions have to be made.