Google, one of the world's leading technology companies, has announced a 6% workforce reduction of 12,000 employees, as the economic boom experienced during the pandemic begins to slow. This is one of the biggest rounds of layoffs ever for the company, and adds to the tens of thousands of job losses recently announced by other tech companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook parent Meta. The layoffs are a sign of the times, and a reminder that the tech industry is not immune to the effects of the pandemic.