When Symantec announced plans for 1,200 layoffs yesterday, it was the latest in a growing list of technology industry job cuts for 2016. The sky certainly isn't falling. But there are some storm clouds on the horizon for certain technology industry workers and channel partners. The big question: Will job cuts impact channel partner program commitments? Hmmm...First, the facts. Technology industry companies that have confirmed layoffs so far in 2016 include:Take a closer look at the list, and most of the companies are hardware industry veterans that are striving to transform for the cloud, big data and mobility age. But even software companies have struggled a bit. Symantec largely missed the huge cloud security and storage opportunity -- though the company is adjusting now. And VMware's own public cloud efforts stumbled, though the company is regaining momentum thanks to software-defined networking (NSX) and software-defined storage (vSAN).
- Automatic: IoT company cuts 28% of staff.
- Cisco Systems: 5,500 job cuts between July and September 2016 (which is Q1 fiscal 2017 for Cisco).
- EMC: Exact layoff figures weren't disclosed.
- HP Inc.: About 3,000 job cuts.
- IBM: Exact layoff figures weren't disclosed.
- Intel: About, 12,000 job cuts.
- NetApp: Cutting about 365 jobs.
- Symantec: About 1,200 layoffs.
- Veritas: Exact layoff figures weren't disclosed.
- VMware: About 800 job cuts.
- Silicon Valley Startups: Some of them are making cuts, too.
- Autodesk and Toshiba America also have made some targeted job cuts.