Mountain View, April 18, 2024, The Europe Today: Alphabet-owned Google has confirmed a round of layoffs affecting an undisclosed number of employees, a company spokesperson revealed on Wednesday. This move signals the latest in a series of cost-cutting initiatives within the technology giant.
The spokesperson clarified that the layoffs are not company-wide and that affected employees will have the opportunity to apply for internal positions. However, specific details regarding the number of employees impacted or the affected teams were not disclosed.
A portion of the affected roles will be transitioned to key hubs where Google is increasing investments, including locations in India, Chicago, Atlanta, and Dublin.
This announcement follows a series of workforce reductions across Google and the broader tech and media industry in response to ongoing economic uncertainties.
“Throughout the latter half of 2023 and into 2024, several of our teams underwent restructuring to enhance efficiency, streamline operations, and realign resources toward our primary product objectives,” stated the Google spokesperson.
According to a report from Business Insider, employees within Google’s real estate and finance departments have been impacted. The affected finance teams reportedly include Google’s treasury, business services, and revenue cash operations.
Ruth Porat, Google’s finance chief, communicated to staff via email that the restructuring effort includes expanding operations in Bangalore, Mexico City, and Dublin, as per the Business Insider report.
Earlier this year, Google initiated significant workforce reductions across various teams, including engineering, hardware, and assistant divisions, as part of its strategic focus on AI development and increased investment.
Company CEO Sundar Pichai reportedly advised employees at the beginning of the year to anticipate further organizational changes.