Google has reportedly laid off “several hundred” workers across multiple divisions in a new round of belt-tightening. The New York Times, 9-5Mac, Semaphore and others. Affected divisions include hardware (Pixel, Nest, and Fitbit), core engineering, and Google Assistant. The layoffs, which appear to be at least 600 but could be higher, are already effective and affected workers are said to have been notified.
“We are responsibly investing in our company’s highest priorities and the significant opportunities ahead,” a Google spokesperson said. NYT in the statement. “Some teams continue to make these kinds of organizational changes, which include eliminating some roles globally.”
As part of the cuts, Google is said to be reorganizing its Pixel, Nest and Fitbit units, and Fitbit co-founders James Park, Eric Friedman and other leaders will leave the company. According to reports, the company will have a team responsible for hardware engineering in all three divisions.
“We’ve had to make some difficult decisions regarding the ongoing hiring of some Googlers, and we’re sorry to announce that your position is being terminated,” according to a note seen by the company. NYT.
The company declined to respond The Verge when asked if it cut staff in any other divisions – so the total number of layoffs is unclear. Last year, Google made its biggest job cuts ever, laying off nearly 12,000 people in January. Since the end of last year, the company 182,381 people were employedand counted 118,899 in early 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was part of it a wider reduction In 2023 jobs across the industry, with more than 220,000 layoffs for the year. These came from larger companies such as Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, Spotify and Amazon, as well as numerous small, mid-sized and start-up firms. Engadget has reached out to Google for comment on the layoffs and will update the story if requested.
