Eurobank has emerged as one of the first 41 companies in Greece to receive the newly introduced Diversity Seal, a state-backed distinction designed to recognise employers that put equality, diversity and inclusion into practice.

State Recognition For Inclusion In Action

The award was presented under an initiative launched by Greece’s Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family to recognise private-sector organisations that have embedded equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion into their business operations.

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Presented on June 18, 2026, at the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens, the initiative aims to give formal recognition to companies that integrate inclusive practices into their workplace culture. Eurobank was represented at the ceremony by Group Chief Human Resources Officer Natassa Paschali.

A Structured Framework For Accountability

The Diversity Seal is the first organised state initiative in Greece designed to assess and recognise companies for implementing equal-opportunity policies and preventing workplace discrimination.

Assessments are based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria, examining not only company policies but also how inclusion is reflected in workplace culture, hiring practices and workforce composition.

The initiative forms part of a broader effort to establish a structured framework for evaluating and recognising diversity and inclusion practices across the private sector.

Eurobank Frames Inclusion As A Business Priority

Eurobank said the distinction reflects its long-standing commitment to creating a modern and inclusive working environment. According to the bank, respect, collaboration and equal opportunities are central to its corporate culture, while employees play an important role in fostering a workplace where diversity supports creativity, development and progress.

The bank also said its diversity, equality and inclusion policy is aligned with its core values and is intended to ensure that every individual has the opportunity to develop without discrimination.

That commitment applies regardless of personal characteristics, age, gender, family status, physical or mobility-related challenges, sexual orientation, social and economic background, or other characteristics and beliefs.

Why The Award Matters Now

The recognition comes at a time when environmental, social and governance considerations, including diversity and inclusion policies, are drawing greater attention from regulators, investors and businesses across Europe.

In that environment, workplace inclusion is increasingly viewed as more than a human resources initiative. It is becoming part of the broader governance and reputation agenda, with implications for resilience, culture and stakeholder trust.

Government And Corporate Leaders Emphasise Practice Over Promises

Commenting on the award, Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Domna Michailidou congratulated Eurobank and said diversity and inclusion should be reflected in everyday business operations rather than remain at the level of policy commitments. She noted that the Diversity Seal is awarded only after a formal evaluation process confirming that companies apply inclusion policies in practice.

“In a sector that is directly linked to trust, access and service for citizens, equality and inclusion cannot remain at the level of declarations,” Michailidou said. “They must be reflected in the way a bank organises its daily operations, supports its people, provides equal opportunities for advancement and creates a working environment free from exclusion.”

Paschali described the distinction as recognition of Eurobank’s long-term commitment to building an inclusive workplace and credited the bank’s employees with shaping its culture.

“Receiving the Diversity Seal is an important recognition of our commitment to creating a modern and deeply human working environment,” she said. “This distinction belongs to the people of Eurobank, who every day help shape a culture of respect, collaboration and inclusion.”

She also thanked the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family for the initiative, adding that Eurobank would continue investing in actions that strengthen equal participation, development and opportunities for everyone.

Part Of Greece’s Wider Recovery Agenda

The Diversity Seal is being implemented by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family through the “Awareness of Diversity” initiative under Greece’s “Greece 2.0” National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The programme is funded through the European Union’s NextGenerationEU initiative, which supports reforms and investments aimed at strengthening social cohesion, economic resilience and sustainable development across member states.

The global aerospace supply chain has become an increasingly significant challenge for airlines, affecting fleet expansion, maintenance operations and operating costs.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), persistent delays in aircraft deliveries, shortages of spare parts and limited maintenance capacity continue to disrupt airline operations, prompting the organisation to outline four priorities aimed at strengthening the aviation supply chain.

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Delay And Shortage Pressure Is Spreading Across Aviation

The priorities were presented at the inaugural IATA World Maintenance and Engineering Symposium in Madrid, where the association called for stronger supply chain visibility, a more open aftermarket, greater use of data and artificial intelligence, and renewed investment in maintenance technician training.

The scale of the challenge was also highlighted during IATA’s recent Annual General Meeting. IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the aircraft order backlog had climbed to more than 18,000, while the average fleet age had reached a record 15.2 years.

Airlines were also “short over 5,000 more fuel-efficient replacement aircraft that airlines had counted on,” he said, a gap that has translated into “missed efficiency gains, not to mention higher lease rates and increased maintenance costs.”

“In total, supply chain failures cost airlines at least $11 billion in 2025. Today’s higher fuel prices will only make that worse,” Walsh said in IATA’s Report on the Air Transport Industry.

Pressure now extends well beyond aircraft deliveries, according to IATA. Engines, materials, spare parts and maintenance capacity are all under strain, creating bottlenecks across the aviation value chain.

“Alongside aircraft delivery delays, engine durability issues, shortages of materials and spare parts, and constrained maintenance capacity are disrupting airline operations,” said Stuart Fox, IATA’s Director of Flight and Technical Operations. “Addressing these challenges will require practical action and cooperation across the aviation value chain.”

Four Priorities For A Strained Supply Chain

IATA says the industry’s response should focus on four practical areas.

1. Better Supply Chain Visibility

The priority is improved visibility across the supply chain. IATA argues that airlines need earlier and more reliable information from manufacturers on delivery delays, repair turnaround times, parts availability and known bottlenecks so they can plan their networks more effectively.

2. A More Open Aftermarket

The association is also calling for a more open aftermarket, urging more manufacturers to adopt the key principles in the IATA-CFM agreement. The framework supports greater competition by strengthening access to third-party maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, alternative parts and approved repairs.

IATA said long-standing commercial restrictions on repair instructions, tooling, approved repair networks and spare parts distribution can limit airlines’ ability to use safe, certified alternatives. In practice, that reduces competition, extends waiting times and raises costs.

3. Smarter Use Of Data And AI

A third priority is unlocking the value of data, digitalisation and artificial intelligence. IATA said closer integration between airline maintenance systems and external market intelligence could improve inventory management, highlight material scarcity, support repair-or-replace decisions and strengthen warranty claims.

Artificial intelligence, the association added, could also help airlines forecast demand, identify shortages and reduce manual work at a time when parts availability has become harder to manage.

IATA pointed to its cooperation with the International Airlines Technical Pool (IATP) to help airlines improve visibility and access to aircraft parts, as well as its decision to make MRO SmartHub available to airlines at no cost through a data participation programme.

4. Expanding Human Capacity

The fourth priority is human capacity. IATA wants the industry to revisit recruitment, training and licensing for maintenance technicians, arguing that timelines must be shorter, access broader and careers more stable.

The need is significant. Boeing estimates that 710,000 new technicians will be required over the next 20 years. IATA said that increasing training capacity, removing unnecessary qualification bottlenecks and improving cross-border recognition of skills would help close the gap.

Safety Deadlines Must Reflect Real-World Constraints

IATA also used the symposium to argue for realistic, globally coordinated timelines for mandates requiring new aircraft equipment or avionics upgrades.

The association said compliance deadlines must account for certification requirements, equipment availability, installation capacity and broader supply chain conditions. It has raised these concerns with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), including requirements linked to the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS), Runway Overrun Awareness and Alerting Systems (ROAAS) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B).

“This is not about delaying safety. It is about making safety deliverable,” Fox said. He added that “global safety improvements require globally coordinated implementation timelines that reflect certification, equipment availability, and installation capacity.”

A Call For Cooperation Across The Aviation Value Chain

Fox said the current pressure on the supply chain should be treated as a call to action rather than a reason for pessimism.

“These four priorities alone are not complete solutions,” he said. “But they would be an important step for OEMs, suppliers, MROs, lessors, regulators and airlines working together to achieve the resilient aerospace supply chains that global connectivity needs.”

Micron shares surged in premarket trading on Thursday after the company reported third-quarter results that highlighted strong demand for memory chips driven by continued investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Revenue reached $41.46 billion in the fiscal third quarter, up from $9.3 billion a year earlier and well above LSEG consensus estimates of nearly $36 billion.

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The company also forecast revenue of around $50 billion for the current quarter, compared with $11.3 billion in the same period last year. Following the results, Micron shares climbed 16.4% in premarket trading, extending gains over the past year and lifting the company’s market value to about $1.2 trillion.

AI Data Centers Are Tightening The Memory Market

The company’s performance reflects a broader supply-chain shift. As hyperscalers and other large cloud operators pour capital into AI infrastructure, data centers are consuming vast quantities of memory chips. That has reduced availability for smartphones, PCs and other consumer devices, creating a supply imbalance that has lifted memory prices and supercharged Micron’s results.

Micron said Wednesday that it has signed 16 long-term agreements with customers spanning data centers and automakers, locking in sales for three to five years and generating expected financial commitments of $22 billion. For a cyclical industry long exposed to boom-and-bust demand swings, that kind of visibility is especially valuable.

RBC Capital Markets analysts estimated that about 40% of Micron’s revenue now comes from long-term contracts with minimum pricing built in. That structure should help cushion margins if demand softens over time, the analysts said, while also reducing the company’s exposure to abrupt pricing declines.

“Our base case is for current upcycle to continue through 2027, and SCAs give us added conviction regarding sustainability,” RBC analysts wrote, adding that they raised estimates, lifted their price target and reiterated an Outperform rating.

Tech Stocks Catch A Bid

Micron’s results also lifted sentiment across the semiconductor sector following a broader sell-off earlier in the week. In premarket trading, Qualcomm gained 12%, Intel rose nearly 6%, AMD advanced 3.6%, and Nvidia added 1.5%.

“U.S. equities have recovered some ground as Micron’s earnings have provided fresh reassurance that the AI investment cycle remains firmly intact,” said Capital.com senior market analyst Daniela Hathorn.

She added that continued demand from data centres and AI infrastructure customers suggests capital spending on artificial intelligence remains strong, helping restore confidence across semiconductor stocks after recent market weakness.

The latest results also highlight the increasingly important role memory chips are playing in the AI supply chain, alongside processors and software, as investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure continues to accelerate.

Energy storage is set to play a central role in Cyprus’ electricity system, helping the country manage renewable energy more efficiently, reduce curtailment from solar and other clean sources, and strengthen grid stability.

Speaking after the signing of an agreement between the Cyprus Transmission System Operator and CYTA for the supply and installation of the country’s first large-scale energy storage systems, Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister Michalis Damianos described the project as a major step in modernising the national power network.

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A Strategic Step In Modernizing The Power System

Damianos said the initiative marks an important milestone in Cyprus’ broader effort to upgrade its energy infrastructure.

“With its implementation, we are entering a new phase in strengthening the resilience and reliability of our island’s electricity grid,” he said. “These storage projects will materially improve the management of renewable energy production, reduce the curtailment of electricity from renewables, and reinforce system stability.”

Energy Transition Requires Time, Coordination And Execution

According to the minister, the energy transition is a complex process that requires careful planning, technical coordination and sustained cooperation among all stakeholders. Against that backdrop, Tuesday’s agreement represents a significant step in implementing Cyprus’ national energy storage strategy and advancing the country’s broader green transition.

Damianos also praised the Transmission System Operator for its planning and execution, while commending CYTA for taking responsibility for the project. “Collaboration among public organizations is a cornerstone for delivering projects that serve the public interest and advance our national energy and climate goals,” he said.

Looking ahead, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding renewable energy through a more efficient, reliable and lower-emission electricity system.

Three Sites, One Systemic Objective

Stavros Stavrinos, executive director of the Cyprus Transmission System Operator, said the project stems from Regulatory Authority of Energy Cyprus decision 217/2025, issued on June 18, 2025, which instructs the operator to deploy storage systems at three existing transmission substations.

Funding for the systems is expected to come from the EU cohesion policy programme Thalia 2021-2027. For that purpose, the operator is working closely with the Control Directorate of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, which acts as the intermediate body.

Under the project, a 40 MW / 80 MWh storage system will be installed at Athalassa substation in the Nicosia district, while two additional 40 MW systems, with 160 MWh of storage each, will be deployed at the Anatoliko and Free Industrial Zone substations in the Paphos and Larnaca districts, respectively.

Why Location Matters

Stavrinos explained that the three substations were selected to maximise the operational value of the storage systems.

Their direct connection to the transmission network will allow the batteries to provide the required reserves without restrictions, while supporting smoother electricity flows and reducing congestion during periods of high demand.

He added that the project will not affect existing renewable energy developments, whose planning and grid connection work are already included in the transmission system’s ten-year development plan.

Preparing For A Grid Dominated By Renewables

Stavrinos said the role of storage is becoming more urgent as Cyprus’ installed photovoltaic capacity has surpassed 1,040 MW, compared with the average national demand of about 650 MW.

“This level of penetration requires flexible resources,” he said. “Storage gives the operator another tool to ensure the system can respond to demand in a reliable way, which is part of our statutory responsibility.”

He also pointed to the fact that renewable generation already covers more than 60% of demand for several hours on many days, and in some half-hour periods reaches 70% over the course of the year. That is a significant achievement, he said, but it also underscores the need for new balancing mechanisms that can protect system stability as renewable penetration rises further.

Grid-Forming Technology Signals A New Phase

One of the most notable elements of the project is that one of the storage systems will feature grid-forming technology, a capability Stavrinos described as a step toward introducing advanced solutions into Cyprus’ power system.

He noted that this technology was developed to support isolated electricity systems such as Cyprus, where flexibility and resilience are especially valuable. For the operator, he said, it represents another major technical challenge, but also a strategic opportunity.

Private Investment Can Advance Alongside Public Infrastructure

Alongside the state-backed project, privately developed storage facilities are also moving forward. According to Stavrinos, the operator has already issued connection terms for independent storage systems with a combined capacity of 60MW and 190MWh, with several projects now at an advanced stage.

“Our conclusion is clear: all storage projects are welcome and necessary if Cyprus is to meet European and national renewable targets,” he said. “They will significantly reduce renewable curtailment and, by extension, emissions. Ultimately, the consumer should benefit through lower electricity costs and improved system performance.”

Implementation is expected to begin shortly, with an estimated eight-month period before the systems enter the execution phase.

CYTA Sees Public Value And Institutional Confidence

CYTA chair Maria Tsiakka said the company will deliver the project through an open and transparent process designed to benefit citizens, support technological progress and contribute to sustainable development.

She added that the assignment reflects the confidence placed in CYTA to manage complex national infrastructure projects while reinforcing its role in initiatives that create value for the wider economy. “Our participation also reflects CYTA’s active role in initiatives that create real value for the economy,” she said.

Tsiakka said CYTA will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure the project is delivered on schedule and meets the country’s future energy needs.

Women now make up the majority of the EU’s science and technology workforce. According to Eurostat, in 2025, more than 81.6 million people aged 15 to 74 were employed in science and technology occupations across the EU. Of those, 52.5% were women, equal to 42.8 million women. The number of women in these occupations rose by 27.9% compared with 2015, an increase of more than 9.3 million over a decade.

On the surface, the numbers resemble progress. However, Eurostat’s category requires context before that figure can be read accurately. The data refers to HRST, or Human Resources in Science and Technology, specifically people employed in science and technology occupations. These are roles where the main tasks require professional or technical knowledge in physical and life sciences, but also in social sciences and humanities. That definition is wider and broader than engineering, ICT, laboratory science, or high-tech research alone.

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Zooming In

The gender picture changes once the data moves from a wider definition of the workforce to the narrower scientist-and-engineer (research and manufacturing) subgroup.

Scientists and engineers represented almost a quarter of all people employed in science and technology in the EU in 2025. Eurostat describes scientists and engineers as often being the innovators at the centre of technology-led development, making them an important subgroup to focus on separately.

Women accounted for only 40.8% of scientists and engineers in 2025, despite making up more than half of the wider category. That share has increased by a mere 0.5 percentage points over the past decade. The absolute number of women working as scientists and engineers rose from 5.3 million in 2015 to 8.2 million in 2025, despite the push from national and international organisations to increase the number of women in the field. Europe has expanded the number of women in science and technology occupations over ten years. However, that expansion has not extended equally into the scientist-and-engineer subgroup, where much of Europe’s research and innovation work is conducted.

In 2025, of the 39.4 million women aged 25 to 64 working in science and technology occupations in the EU, 35.5 million worked in service activities. Only 2.7 million worked in manufacturing. Women accounted for 57.5% of science and technology employment in services, but only 31.3% in manufacturing.

In 2025, the highest shares of women employed in science and technology occupations were recorded in Latvia at 62.4%, followed by Hungary’s Great Plain and North region at 61.1%, Estonia at 60.5%, Poland’s Central macroregion at 60.4%, and Lithuania at 60.3%. No EU country recorded a majority of women among science and technology workers in manufacturing.

Break-down

Eurostat’s figures measure employment in broad science and technology occupations. They do not show job security, pay levels, management roles, promotion rates, research leadership, or whether women are concentrated in junior or senior workplace positions.

The classification of “senior” also requires additional explanation. Eurostat reports that 45.9% of science and technology workers aged 25 to 64 in the EU were classified as “senior” HRST in 2025. In this dataset, “senior” refers to workers aged 45 to 64. It does not mean senior manager, senior researcher, team lead, or decision-maker.

A high female share in the wider Human Resource Science and Technology (HRST) category does not parallel equal representation across scientists, engineers, manufacturing roles, senior posts, pay, research funding, or decision-making. These figures also reflect the occupational mix inside each country or region, not only structural progress across all areas of science and technology.

The Case Of Cyprus

Eurostat data places Cyprus’s overall science and technology employment at 37.2% of the labour force in 2025, slightly above the EU-27 figure of 36.9%, and above Greece at 26.8%, Malta at 33.9%, and Turkey at 18.2%. This figure covers the total share of the labour force employed in science and technology across all genders.

Progress Or Work-in-Progress?

52.5% in the broad category. 40.8% among scientists and engineers. 31.3% in manufacturing. Europe’s gender gap in science and technology hasn’t closed yet, and there is still work to be done to encourage and support more women to enter the field, especially in research and manufacturing.

Let’s not wait another decade for another couple of percentage points of hope.

Meta is expanding its use of artificial intelligence to strengthen Facebook’s appeal among creators, unveiling plans to transform Creator Studio into a standalone AI-powered companion app designed to simplify content management and audience growth.

An AI Assistant Built Around Creator Workflows

Announced on Wednesday, the new app is currently being tested with a select group of creators and incorporates Facebook’s recently launched AI creator assistant. According to Meta, the tool provides personalised recommendations based on a creator’s content, audience engagement, performance metrics and growth objectives.

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Rather than navigating multiple dashboards and analytics reports, creators will be able to ask questions directly in a conversational format. Queries such as when to post, how content is performing or what audiences are discussing in the comments can be answered through the assistant, with follow-up prompts offering deeper insights into engagement trends.

From Analytics To Action

Beyond reporting performance data, the platform is designed to help creators act on those insights. A new AI-powered comment management tool will identify priority interactions and suggest responses tailored to the creator’s tone and style. Suggested replies can be reviewed and edited before publication, allowing creators to maintain control over their communication while reducing the time spent managing engagement.

Daily recommendations will also be integrated into the app, highlighting key tasks such as reviewing recent content performance, tracking progress toward audience goals and responding to important comments. The aim is to turn Creator Studio into a more comprehensive productivity tool rather than a traditional analytics platform.

Why Meta Is Pushing Harder For Creators

The initiative comes as competition for creators intensifies across social media platforms. Facebook continues to compete with TikTok and YouTube for audience attention, making creator retention an increasingly important priority. By embedding AI more deeply into creator workflows, Meta is seeking to make content planning, performance analysis and community management easier without requiring users to rely on external tools.

Keeping more of those activities within Facebook’s ecosystem could help strengthen creator engagement while reducing dependence on third-party AI platforms for brainstorming, analytics and audience insights.

Part Of A Broader App Expansion Strategy

Wednesday’s announcement fits into a broader pattern of product launches from Meta. Last month, the company introduced Forum, a stand-alone app for Facebook Groups that functions similarly to Reddit. In April, it launched Instants, an app for sharing disappearing photos with Instagram friends.

The pipeline appears to be growing. The New York Times reported this week that Meta is also building a prediction-market app internally known as Arena, though it has not yet launched. Taken together, these products suggest a company that is increasingly comfortable spinning up focused apps around specific use cases instead of relying solely on its flagship platforms.

That approach aligns with comments CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly made to employees earlier this year, when he pointed to AI-driven efficiencies as a way for Meta to build more apps than it historically has. The message is clear: Meta is not just adding AI features. It is reorganizing product strategy around them.

Google’s efforts to strengthen its position in artificial intelligence are facing another talent challenge, with Bloomberg reporting that researchers Jonas Adler and Alexander Pritzel are preparing to leave the company for Anthropic.

Key Contributors To Gemini Move On

Both researchers reportedly played important roles in the development of Gemini, Google’s flagship AI model. Their departures come as the company continues to invest heavily in advancing its AI capabilities and competing with other leading developers in the sector.

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A Broader Pattern Of Departures

The reported moves follow a series of high-profile departures from Google’s AI teams in recent weeks.

Last week, researcher Noam Shazeer announced that he was leaving Google for OpenAI. Shazeer spent most of his career at Google after joining the company in 2000, apart from three years at Character.AI, the startup Google effectively acquired through a $2.7 billion deal that brought him back to work on Gemini.

Shortly afterwards, Google DeepMind director John Jumper also announced his departure for Anthropic. Jumper shared the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with DeepMind chief executive Demis Hassabis for their work on AlphaFold, the AI system designed to predict three-dimensional protein structures.

Why Anthropic And OpenAI Are Attracting Talent

The departures highlight the increasingly competitive market for top AI researchers as leading companies continue to expand their capabilities and recruit aggressively.

With both OpenAI and Anthropic frequently viewed as central players in the next phase of AI development, opportunities to work on frontier models and participate in fast-growing organisations have become an important draw for senior researchers.

The Challenge For Google

For Google, the issue extends beyond replacing individual researchers. Maintaining continuity across teams, preserving institutional knowledge and sustaining momentum in key AI projects are becoming increasingly important as competition for talent intensifies.

As the race to develop advanced AI systems accelerates, retaining experienced researchers is likely to remain a key focus for all major players in the sector.

Passkeys are increasingly being promoted as one of the most effective ways to protect online accounts. By reducing reliance on passwords, they help prevent phishing attacks, simplify sign-ins and strengthen account security. Despite those advantages, however, many major digital platforms have yet to adopt the technology.

A Security Upgrade Still Missing At Scale

That gap is the focus of whynopasskeys.com, a new site created by security researcher Scott Helme to highlight companies that have not yet enabled passkeys for their users. The site tracks major consumer brands that continue to rely on older login methods even as passkeys become the industry standard.

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Among the services still without passkey support are Instagram, Netflix and Spotify, according to the site’s data.

Why Passkeys Matter

Unlike traditional passwords, passkeys are generated on a user’s device and linked both to that device and to a specific website or application. Authentication can be completed through biometrics such as Face ID or Touch ID, a hardware security key or a password manager.

Because users do not need to create or remember passwords, opportunities for credential theft, phishing attacks and password reuse are significantly reduced. In most cases, gaining access to an account would require direct access to the user’s device.

Public Accountability As A Pressure Tactic

In a blog post explaining the project, Helme said the goal is to create pressure by making the absence of passkey support visible. “A list is a surprisingly effective motivator. Nobody wants to be on the list,” he wrote.

That approach has already worked elsewhere in cybersecurity: when businesses are publicly compared against peers on basic protections, they often move faster to close the gap. In this case, the list is intended to push platforms to give users a stronger and simpler login option.

The Companies Moving Faster

Many large technology companies have already adopted passkeys, including Apple, Google and Microsoft, reflecting the technology’s growing role in account security.

Implementation, however, remains uneven. Instagram users can currently access passkeys only when their account is linked to a Facebook account that already has passkey support enabled, highlighting differences in adoption even within the same company.

The Bigger Business Question

Meta has not publicly explained why passkeys are available on some of its platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, but not fully across Instagram.

Debate within the industry is no longer centred on whether passkeys work, but on how quickly companies are willing to deploy them. As phishing, credential theft and account fraud remain persistent cybersecurity challenges, passkeys are increasingly being viewed not as an optional feature but as an emerging security standard.

Whether artificial intelligence is already replacing jobs remains one of the most fiercely contested questions in the tech economy. The answer, at least for software engineers, appears to be more complicated than many layoffs headlines suggest.

Layoffs May Cite AI, But Hiring Tells Another Story

Tech layoffs reached their highest single-month total in years in May, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, and AI was the most frequently cited reason. That has fueled the argument that automation is already displacing white-collar workers at scale.

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Yet researchers at venture firm SignalFire say the hiring data points in a different direction.

“The rationale given for lots of layoffs is consistently AI, and specifically they’ll say AI with respect to code; they’ll say one engineer could do the job of however many engineers in the past,” said Asher Bantock, SignalFire’s head of research. “What we’re seeing on the ground is a little inconsistent with that.”

Engineering Has Proved More Resilient Than Expected

SignalFire’s analysis, which tracks the careers of millions of employees across more than 80 million companies, suggests engineering was the most resilient job function in 2025. Rather than relying on layoffs data, which can be distorted because workers often delay updating their employment status after a job cut, the firm used hiring trends as a more accurate measure of real-time labor demand.

According to SignalFire’s latest State of Talent Report, total hiring across large tech companies fell 25% from 2019 levels. Engineering hiring declined far less, down just 11% over the same period.

The trend was even more striking among the 12 companies SignalFire classifies as “Tech Majors” — Alphabet, Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Tesla, Uber, Airbnb, Block and Stripe. In 2025, engineers accounted for 55% of all new hires, up from 46% in 2019.

Early-stage startups showed a similar pattern. Collectively, they hired 7% more engineers in 2025 than they did in 2019, according to SignalFire’s data.

Why AI Has Not Reduced Demand For Engineers

If AI were genuinely replacing engineering talent, hiring in the profession would likely be among the first areas to weaken during a broader slowdown in technology recruitment. Instead, engineering demand has remained stronger than many other functions.

Part of the explanation may be that AI tools increase productivity without necessarily reducing workloads. Faster coding can accelerate product development, generate more ideas, and create additional infrastructure requirements, ultimately increasing the amount of technical work to be completed.

That dynamic resembles the Jevons paradox, the economic theory that greater efficiency can increase overall demand rather than reduce it. Applied to software development, the principle suggests that more productive engineers may be able to build more products, features and services.

As Bantock put it, engineers are now “suddenly a lot more productive, and there’s endless work for them to do.”

Executives Remain Divided On AI’s Labor Impact

The broader debate remains unresolved across the industry. Last year, Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei warned that AI could eliminate a substantial share of entry-level white-collar jobs and significantly increase unemployment within the next five years.

Others within the sector are more cautious. Anthropic’s head of economics, Peter McCrory, told TechCrunch in March that he had not yet observed clear evidence of large-scale AI-driven workforce disruption.

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang has also pushed back against predictions of declining demand for software engineers. Speaking at Stanford Graduate School of Business in April, he argued that engineers at Nvidia have become busier, not less relevant, as AI tools become more capable.

“Now that all engineers at Nvidia are using agentic AI, software engineers are busier than ever,” Huang said. While AI can generate code in seconds, he argued, engineers continue to focus on developing new ideas, products and systems.

The Bottom Line For Tech Talent

For now, the available evidence suggests AI is transforming engineering work more than eliminating it. Productivity gains are changing how software is developed, but demand for technical talent remains resilient despite broader hiring pressures across the technology sector.

Rather than making engineers obsolete, AI appears to be reshaping the role itself, allowing teams to work faster while continuing to expand the range and complexity of projects they can pursue.

A committee of the European Parliament has approved €9.21 million in assistance for Cyprus from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to help address the aftermath of the 2025 wildfires.

Brussels Mobilizes €144.1 Million For Three Member States

Members of the European Parliament’s Budget Committee (BUDG) backed the mobilization of a total of €144.1 million from the EU Solidarity Fund for Cyprus, Romania and Spain following major natural disasters in 2025.

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Under the proposal, Cyprus is set to receive €9.21 million for wildfire-related damage, while Romania would receive €14.34 million for flooding and Spain €120.55 million for wildfires.

Unanimous Committee Support

Support for the proposal was unanimous, with 31 votes in favour and no votes against or abstentions.

Earlier assistance had already been provided through advance payments, including €2.3 million for Cyprus and €30 million for Spain to address immediate recovery needs. Final allocations were calculated by the European Commission based on the reported scale of damage and the fund’s eligibility criteria.

Cyprus Bears The Heavy Cost Of July Fires

Two major wildfires that broke out in Cyprus in July 2025 affected areas in the districts of Limassol and Paphos, according to the European Parliament. Loss of life, displacement of residents and extensive property damage were among the consequences of the fires, which destroyed nearly 900 private properties and disrupted education and health services in affected communities.

Elsewhere, Romania’s allocation relates to severe flooding that occurred in May and June 2025, including damage linked to the Praid salt mine. Funding for Spain is tied to large-scale wildfires driven by prolonged drought and extreme temperatures that forced thousands of people to evacuate.

Lawmakers Call For More Prevention And Resilience

Alongside the funding approval, MEPs highlighted the growing frequency of major natural disasters across Europe and called for greater investment in prevention, preparedness and climate adaptation measures.

According to the draft report, strengthening resilience could help reduce both the human and economic impact of future disasters. Approval by the European Parliament plenary and the Council of the European Union is still required before the funding can be disbursed. A plenary vote is expected in July, after which the approved assistance would be released in a single payment.

A Fund Built For Crisis Response

Since its creation in 2002, the EU Solidarity Fund has allocated more than €10 billion in support following 147 disaster events across EU member states and candidate countries.

Polish MEP Bogdan Rzońca of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) serves as rapporteur for the report, while DISY MEP Michalis Hadjipantela is the European People’s Party’s shadow rapporteur.