Google Employees lay off in 2024
Google CEO Sundar Pichai has informed employees to prepare for additional job cuts within the Alphabet-owned company this year, as reported by The Verge on Wednesday. As per an internal memo, Pichai emphasized that the layoffs are part of a strategy to streamline operations by removing layers, aiming to simplify execution and enhance efficiency in certain areas.
The memo hints that the job cuts are not on the same scale as the reductions witnessed last year and will not impact every team. Pichai assured employees that despite these changes, Google remains committed to pursuing ambitious goals and will continue to invest in key priorities during the year.
A Google representative confirmed the distribution of the memo to Reuters but declined to disclose further details about its contents.
This announcement adds to the growing concerns that job cuts will persist this year as companies increasingly turn to artificial intelligence software and automation to optimize workflows and drive innovation. Last week, Google had already disclosed plans to lay off employees across multiple units, including Voice Assistant, hardware teams overseeing Pixel, Nest, and Fitbit, advertising sales, and the augmented reality team.
In January 2023, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, unveiled plans to cut 12,000 jobs, equivalent to 6% of its global workforce. As of September 2023, the company’s global employee count stood at 182,381.