Brace yourselves, Googlers! The tech giant has issued a stark warning: more job cuts are on the horizon in 2024. This follows a series of earlier reductions, leaving employees concerned about their future with the company.
CEO Sundar Pichai, in a recent memo, cited the need for “simplification” and “removing layers” to streamline operations and drive efficiency. While assuring the cuts won’t be as extensive as last year’s, specific departments remain on edge.
More than 7,500 workers have been let go by major tech companies like Google and Amazon so far in January. In an effort to “simplify execution,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai has forewarned staff members about additional layoffs in the upcoming months, according to The Verge.
The article further stated that Pichai stated in a memo that the layoffs would concentrate on “removing layers” from multiple areas in order to increase company pace. “These role eliminations are not at the scale of last year’s reductions, and will not touch every team,” he said.
Alphabet disclosed intentions to reduce 12,000 workers, or 6% of its global workforce, in January 2023. 182,381 people worked for the company worldwide as of September 2023. Although this was the largest layoff in Google history, Pichai had previously stated that it was “essential” for the business.
These workers were let go by Google as part of a cost-cutting move that included a significant reorganization of the organization’s workforce. During this reorganization, the tech giant also terminated Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman.
Google Plans Further Job Cuts as 2024 Begins
While the United States and Europe saw a surge in economic activity at the beginning of the year, tech companies have begun 2024 with a wave of layoffs as they continue to invest in artificial intelligence (AI) and implement cost-cutting strategies.
In the first two weeks of the month, companies such as Google and Amazon let go of hundreds of workers, and they declared that they would be laying off additional workers in the coming months as a result of AI developments.
As of now in January, tech companies have let off almost 7,500 workers overall, according to the tracking website Layoffs.fyi. This includes layoffs at Microsoft-funded HumaneAI, Twitch, which is supported by Amazon, and Google.
Several hundred workers were let go by Amazon.com last week from its streaming and studio divisions. According to media sources, hundreds of positions were also eliminated from its Audible audiobook division and Twitch live-streaming site.
This occurs at a time when Microsoft is directly challenging Amazon and Google in the artificial intelligence race, with both companies investing billions in AI development to streamline occupations and organizational structures within the business.
Executives as well as regular workers were affected by the cuts.
According to Bloomberg, 630 employees—including four vice presidents and 25 directors—were let go. More than 1,000 workers have been let go in total, according to the Alphabet Workers Union, which represents certain Google employees.
As part of the reorganization, Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman are also departing Google, according to Bloomberg.
Pichai mentioned, “We have ambitious goals, and will be investing in our big priorities this year.”
Hundreds of workers from the search engine behemoth’s Voice Assistant divisions, Fitbit, Pixel, and Nest hardware teams, advertising sales teams, and augmented reality teams were let go last week.
Pichai sent a memo to all staff members informing them that “these role eliminations are not at the scale of last year’s reductions, and will not touch every team,” according to The Verge.
Also Read: GOOGLE RESTRUCTURES WORKFORCE: 30K JOBS IMPACTED BY AI-DRIVEN AUTOMATION
