Google Announces 12,000 Job Cuts Amid Global Tech Layoff Wave
Google's parent company Alphabet eliminates 12,000 roles globally as the tech industry faces an ongoing wave of mass layoffs. CEO Sundar Pichai takes full responsibility for the over-hiring decisions made during the pandemic boom.
Google's parent company Alphabet eliminates 12,000 jobs globally, representing about six percent of its massive workforce. CEO Sundar Pichai shares the news in an internal memo, acknowledging that the company hires too quickly over the past two years and miscalculates the future economic landscape. The cuts affect employees across various departments, including recruiting, engineering, and corporate functions.
The decision reflects a broader trend across the technology sector, where major companies like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft also slash thousands of positions recently. After experiencing unprecedented growth during the pandemic, these tech giants now face shifting consumer habits, rising interest rates, and fears of a potential recession. Pichai emphasizes that the layoffs are not a reflection of the individual performance of the affected employees.
Impacted workers in the United States receive severance packages that include 16 weeks of base pay plus additional compensation based on their years of service. Google also promises to provide six months of healthcare coverage, career transition services, and immigration support for those on visas. The company states it plans to continue hiring for critical roles in the future, but with a much more cautious approach to its overall headcount growth.