Data: Company earnings reports; Chart: Thomas Oide/Axios
In just the past year, Microsoft, Facebook and Google parent Alphabet have all seen their headcount rise by upwards of 20%. As Big Tech companies shift from growth to belt tightening, they will have to reckon with just how many employees they've hired since the pandemic began.
Why it matters: Hiring freezes may not do enough to cut costs, as companies' payroll will rise significantly just due to all the employees hired in the last year.
