Tech Layoffs Flood Washington State Amid Tax Concerns

Washington state's tech industry is experiencing a wave of layoffs and restructuring, with major players like Google, Zillow, and Salesforce cutting hundreds of jobs in the region.

The latest cuts came from Salesforce, which announced it will permanently lay off 59 workers in Seattle and Bellevue beginning October 5. This marks the company's third round of layoffs in 2026 and affects employees across various divisions, including Tableau and Trailhead.

Google is also reducing its workforce in Washington state, with 52 permanent job cuts affecting software engineers, engineering managers, product managers, recruiters, designers, and other technical employees. Zillow will permanently lay off 91 Washington employees as part of a larger restructuring that affects more than 500 workers worldwide.

The layoffs are part of a larger trend in the Seattle area, with tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Starbucks reducing their local workforce or shifting operations elsewhere. The region's office vacancy rate has climbed to approximately 37 percent, with one out of every three downtown office spaces vacant.