Google, Meta, Amazon, Other Tech Giants Hiring Low-Paid H1B Workers After Massive Layoffs: Report

According to a report, the recently released data by the US Department of Labor has shown that Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft among other tech firms have applied for thousands of H1B worker visas.

According to a report, Google filed applications for H1B visas to hire lower-paid tech workers from foreign countries just a month after announcing its plan to cut 12,000 jobs worldwide in January.

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Despite mass layoffs by global tech giants, some top Silicon Valley companies are reportedly seeking to recruit cheaper tech workers from abroad. According to a report by independent investigative journalist Lee Fang, the recently released data by the US Department of Labor has shown that Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Zoom, Salesforce, and Palantir among other tech firms have applied for thousands of H1B worker visas this year. 

It is ironic that thousands of workers on H1B visas, including those from India, have been impacted by the layoffs in the US, leading many to share the news on social media and explore new job opportunities, the report noted. 

According to a report, Google filed applications for H1B visas to hire lower-paid tech workers from foreign countries just a month after announcing its plan to cut 12,000 jobs worldwide in January. The visas were for roles including software engineers, analytical consultants, and user experience researchers, with some requests aimed at new Google employees to join in August. Google parent Alphabet-owned Waymo too has reportedly filed similar H1B applications to hire engineers.

Meta too has reduced its estimated workforce by nearly 25 per cent in a few months as CEO Mark Zuckerberg named it the "year of efficiency" in the wake of the downsizing US tech sector, the report noted. 

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy also announced a plan to reduce another 9,000 jobs from the online retail giant's workforce in March after the 18,000 that were cut in January. However, the number of layoffs at Amazon accounts for a smaller percentage of its total workforce, which reached 1.5 million in December 2022, compared to other tech giants. Jassy told workers that the extra layoffs were necessary as the company seeks to downsize after years of hiring, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic when people turned to the internet for shopping.

Microsoft announced in January that it would cut almost 5 per cent of its global workforce, equating to 10,000 jobs, to prepare for a potential economic downturn. CEO Satya Nadella in an email to employees said that the company would continue to hire in important strategic areas, despite the job cuts. CEO Satya Nadella said, “While we are eliminating roles in some areas, we will continue to hire in key strategic areas.”