Google CEO Sundar Pichai issued an internal memo titled “2024 priorities and the year ahead” signalling more Google layoffs in the future. Over a thousand employees across hardware, ad sales, trust and safety, shopping, maps, policy core engineering, and YouTube teams have been laid off since January 10, with further cuts anticipated, warns The Verge.
Pichai Addresses Workforce Regarding Google Layoffs Ahead
On Wednesday, CEO Sundar Pichai addressed the entire Google workforce, cautioning employees to brace for additional cuts, as reported by The Verge. Pichai revealed,
“We have ambitious goals and will be investing in our big priorities this year,”
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, he said,
“The reality is that to create the capacity for this investment, we have to make tough choices.”
The impact of these Google layoffs is already evident across multiple divisions, including hardware, ad sales, trust and safety, shopping, maps, policy core engineering, and YouTube teams. Pichai stressed that these layoffs and reorganizations, though significant, do not match the scale of the 12,000 Google layoffs executed around the same time last year.
In a memo, Pichai clarified,
“These role eliminations are not at the scale of last year’s reductions, and will not touch every team.”
He acknowledged the emotional toll on employees, stating,
“But I know it’s very difficult to see colleagues and teams impacted.”
Tech Industry Sees Surge in Job Cuts
Explaining the company’s rationale, Pichai clarified that this year’s layoffs focus on “removing layers to simplify execution and drive velocity in some areas.” Confirming concerns within Google, he stated that more “role eliminations” are forthcoming.
Pichai cautioned,
“Many of these changes are already announced, though to be upfront, some teams will continue to make specific resource allocation decisions throughout the year where needed, and some roles may be impacted.”
Google joins a trend among tech companies resorting to layoffs this month. Amazon, a major competitor in cloud and artificial intelligence, has initiated layoffs, including the reduction of over 500 positions within Twitch, its livestreaming video platform. Amazon has also had staff cuts in the hundreds within Prime Video and MGM Studios teams.
According to Layoffs.fyi, a layoff tracking website, the tech industry has witnessed over 7,500 job cuts in 2024 so far.
Also Read: Apple Expands in India, Opens 15-Floor Office in Bengaluru
