Over 51,529 individuals met their occupational demise in the first-half of 2012, marking the largest mid-year total for tech sector job cuts since 2009. These figures originate from a report (pdf) prepared by consulting outfit Challenger, Gray & Christmas. During this period last year, the industry endured 14,308 job losses – a number which is about 260 percent less than the latest figure.

With so much emphasis placed on the term "jobs" in recent times, the firm's number paint a sobering picture of the industry's health. Despite its pale appearances though, the report claims the tech sector is on "stable footing" – a claim backed up by projections which peg technology sales and service revenues up by 3 percent this year.

The prime contributor to tech job losses in 2012 has been HP, a company which was criticized in recent years for making hasty decisions and lacking focus. The enormous computer maker unleashed a huge wave of job cuts culling 34,380 positions -- a sizeable, 10 percent chunk of its total workforce. Meanwhile, HP has been trying to restructure its various limbs and streamline the company.

Other notable company layoffs during 2012 include Sony and Nokia, each contributing 10,000 workers to the unemployment pool while Yahoo bid bon voyage to 2,000 employees. This 2,000-person figure, by the way, is rumored to be the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Meanwhile, telecommunication companies have also seen a doubling of layoffs this year, jumping from 6,813 cuts in 1H 2011 to 13,059 during the same period in 2012. Unlike other areas of tech employment though, the electronics industry remained resilient with job cutting numbers mirroring those from last year.