LinkedIn has reportedly laid off around 200 employees, representing about 1 per cent of its global workforce, over the past two weeks. The majority of the affected positions are within the engineering and customer support departments, according to a report by The Information.
This move is part of broader workforce adjustments at the professional networking firm. In 2023, the company conducted several rounds of layoffs and began phasing out its China-focused job app, citing shifting market conditions. Additionally, LinkedIn’s parent company, Microsoft, has also implemented multiple layoffs in 2024, cutting more than 1,000 jobs across various divisions.
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Despite the recent layoffs, LinkedIn remains committed to enhancing its platform with generative AI-powered tools. These innovations are designed to attract individual and enterprise users by simplifying content creation and fostering greater engagement. Users can now leverage AI to generate posts and craft comments in response to others' updates. These features are in line with Microsoft's broader AI strategy.
The layoffs are part of ongoing adjustments by LinkedIn and its parent company to align operations with shifting market demands and technological priorities. While they impact specific teams, these changes highlight LinkedIn’s continued investment in strategic areas like AI, ensuring it maintains a competitive edge in the professional networking space.
Companies across different industries have been dealing with a significant number of layoffs in recent years, owing to the challenges faced by the overall economies around the world. Almost all of the biggest companies in their respective sectors have laid off thousands of employees and this trend does not seem to end anytime soon. Experts suggest it will take some time before the layoff situation improves.