In another round of Google layoffs in 2024, Google recently laid off many employees, including Google’s Python team, to cut costs by hiring cheaper labour outside the US, according to a report by Free Press Journal. The company plans to form a new team in Munich, Germany, which is expected to be more cost-effective. However, despite this news, Python developers in the industry shouldn’t be too worried. A 2023 Developer Skills Report by HackerRank showed that Python remains one of the most sought-after programming languages globally.
Python is widely used by different professionals for various tasks. Data scientists use it to analyze large datasets and gain insights. Web developers rely on Python for building server-side web applications and automating web scraping tasks. Machine learning engineers utilize Python for designing, training, and deploying machine learning models. Additionally, Python helps in automating repetitive tasks and boosting efficiency.
Google Layoffs Spark Discontent
Recently, a post on Mastodon by a member of the ex-Google Python team expressed deep disappointment over the layoffs. One employee, who had been with Google for two decades, described it as the best job ever and felt the layoffs were unfair. Another employee lamented the pain of seeing their entire team, including the manager, replaced by remote workers from abroad.
Reasons Behind the Google Layoffs
According to a report by Free Press Journal, Google fired its entire Python team to cut costs by hiring cheaper labor outside the United States, possibly in Munich, Germany. The US Python team, consisting of less than 10 members, played a crucial role in managing the Python ecosystem at Google, maintaining a stable Python version, updating third-party packages, and developing a typechecker.
Python’s Growing Importance in Europe
Python is the second most popular programming language on various platforms, and its adoption among developers in Europe is increasing rapidly. In Spain, Germany, Italy, France, and Portugal, the number of developers using Python has seen significant year-on-year growth, ranging from 22% to 25%.
As we enter the AI revolution, some developers worry about job displacement. However, Python remains crucial in AI development, particularly in machine learning. Python libraries like TensorFlow and PyTorch offer ready-made functions for AI tasks, making Python a cornerstone in AI development.
While the nature of Python work might evolve, such as focusing more on AI model creation or integration, Python developers’ skills will remain valuable. Major tech companies like Intel, IBM, Netflix, Facebook, and Spotify, along with YouTube and Google, rely on Python as their primary language.
Google’s Restructuring Plans
Google’s finance chief, Ruth Porat, informed employees via email that the company is continuing its restructuring efforts, with a focus on locations like Bangalore, Mexico City, and Dublin. This restructuring follows the layoffs of hundreds of workers across various teams in January, including engineering, hardware, and assistant teams.
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