Biopharma layoffs must double in second half of 2026 to match 2025 cuts

The first half of 2026 saw biopharma companies cut slightly fewer jobs than the same period a year earlier, with layoffs affecting about 2% fewer employees overall.

To reach the total workforce reduction recorded in 2025 – 43,242 jobs – the second half of 2026 would need to see layoffs double the size of the first half, amounting to roughly 28,815 employees.

Historical patterns suggest this surge is not guaranteed. In 2024, layoffs fell 20% from the first to the second half of the year, and this year only 58% of companies reported or projected cuts compared with the prior year. The extent of future reductions will likely hinge on whether large layoff rounds continue and how intensified merger‑and‑acquisition activity influences headcounts.

Data from recent years show that the deepest layoff rounds typically occur in the first six months, with the biggest impact in the second quarter. For example, the Q2 cuts this year affected 6,360 employees, underscoring how early‑year reductions can drive overall headcount loss.