Tech leaders like Sundar Pichai, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk led a workforce efficiency crusade in 2025.Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic The "efficiency" motto has driven layoffs and hiring freezes in the 2025 job market. Companies hope the cuts will save them money, but workers worry about their livelihoods. From Big Tech to the federal workforce, bureaucracy has fallen out of fashion. It's CEOs' favorite buzzword and white-collar workers' nightmare fuel. "Ef ...