Round of unrelenting job cuts hit Big Tech, media companies
Google signage and Google Android on the Google campus in Mountain View, California, U.S., Jan. 19, 2024. (EPA Photo)


As some companies such as Snap, which runs the youth-focused instant messaging Snapchat platform, continue to announce fresh job cuts reflecting economic uncertainties within Big Tech and media firms, it seems that the round of layoffs seen last year could persist.

With dozens of layoffs across the tech and media sector in the first month of a new year, here are some that stood out:

Amazon

Jan. 18 – The Buy with Prime unit laying off less than 5% of its employees.

Jan. 11 – Audiobook and podcast division Audible laying off 5% of its workforce, according to a memo from the head of the division.

Jan. 10 – Amazon set to lay off several hundred employees in its streaming and studio operations, extending job cuts into 2024.

Jan. 9 – Streaming unit Twitch to cut 35% of its staff, or about 500 workers, as reported by Bloomberg News.

Alphabet

Jan. 22 – X Lab, Alphabet's division for developing new technology, laying off dozens of workers and turning to outside investors for funding.

Jan. 16 – Google, part of Alphabet, laying off hundreds of employees in its advertising sales team.

Jan. 11 – Google laying off hundreds of people across teams, including the hardware team responsible for Pixel, Nest and Fitbit, and the majority of those in the augmented reality team.

Sky Group

Jan. 30 – Comcast-owned British media group Sky plans to cut about 1,000 jobs across its businesses this year, a source familiar with the development told Reuters, as it transitions to internet-based services from traditional satellite ones.

Snap

Feb. 5 – Snap plans to cut around 528 jobs or 10% of its global workforce.

In this photo illustration, Snapchat app download is shown, Chicago, Illinois, U.S., Feb. 5, 2024. (AFP Photo)

Salesforce

Jan. 26 – Salesforce laying off about 700 employees, roughly 1% of its global workforce, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Microsoft

Jan. 25 – Microsoft set to lay off 1,900 employees at Activision Blizzard and Xbox.

Paramount Global

Jan. 25 – Paramount Global plans an unspecified number of layoffs, and aims to become a leaner organization.

Business Insider

Jan. 25 – Business Insider plans to lay off around 8% of its staff, according to CEO Barbara Peng.

IBM

Jan. 24 – IBM plans to lay off some employees in 2024, but will hire more for AI-centered roles, making it likely it will end the year with its headcount unchanged.

Aurora Innovation

Jan. 24 – Autonomous vehicle technology company Aurora Innovation said it had cut 3% of its workforce as part of a reorganization exercise.

eBay

Jan. 23 – eBay plans to cut about 1,000 roles or around 9% of its current workforce.

Los Angeles Times

Jan. 23 – The Los Angeles Times plans to lay off 94 journalists who are members of the newspaper's union.

Walt Disney

Jan. 11 – Pixar Animation Studios, part of Walt Disney, set to cut jobs after completing production on some shows and having more staff than needed.

Unity Software

Jan. 8 – Video game software provider Unity Software plans to lay off approximately 25% of its workforce, to cut around 1,800 jobs.