POLICY

Microsoft’s LinkedIn is about to lay off 5% of its staff

Microsoft Corp.-owned LinkedIn is about to lay off about 5% of its staff, according to report in Reuters today.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters that the networking giant will reorganize its teams and focus on areas where the core business is growing.

Presently, LinkedIn employs close to 17,500 staff globally, which would put the cull count near 875. Though the specifics of the layoffs have yet to be delineated, the source told Reuters that the headcount blitz is not related artificial intelligence and automated processes. They have, however, been confirmed, as a spokesperson for LinkedIn told various media, “As part of our usual business planning, we’ve implemented organizational changes to position ourselves in the best way possible into the future.”

The company’s potential cuts come as revenue at LinkedIn, which sells recruiting tools and subscriptions, rose 12% in the just-ended quarter from a year earlier, accelerating growth in 2026, according to Microsoft securities filings.

The layoffs come as Microsoft lays off staff numbers across multiple parts of its own business. Last year, it was reported the firm planned to let go about 9,000 of its employees, close to 4% of the entire workforce.

All added up, it’s reported that Big Tech has collectively displaced more than 100,000 workers. Meta Platforms Inc. is reported to have lost or still be losing what amounts to about 20% of its global workforce, while Google LLC and Amazon.com Inc. have also seen major reductions in staff numbers as the companies restructure business.

Though many of these layoffs are said to be a direct result of machines replacing humans, some economists and labor experts have questioned whether companies are overstating AI’s role in job cuts. Forbes recently reported that many layoffs may instead be tied to wider financial pressures, post-pandemic corporate restructuring and demands from shareholders, with AI sometimes serving as a convenient public explanation.

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