Why mass layoffs are no longer a sign of distress, but a calculated swap of human payroll for digital horsepower.
For decades, a mass layoff was a corporate scream for help—a distinct "sell" signal indicating financial bleed. But in the 2026 "Layoff Wave," that logic has inverted. US-listed companies have cut over 165,000 jobs (including ~14k at Amazon and ~24k at Intel), yet the S&P 500 tech sector pushed to record highs during the exact same period. A "Pink Slip" is now the single most bullish signal a CEO can send to Wall Street.