YouTube, a division of Google, is the most recent sector to experience workforce reductions. The trend of job cuts persists throughout Google, impacting approximately 100 individuals on the business side of YouTube this time.
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BERLIN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 05: A man walks past a billboard advertisement for YouTube on October 5, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. YouTube has established itself as the biggest global platform for online video presentations.
Eliminating Employees from YouTube
Google is implementing a new round of layoffs at its video-sharing platform, YouTube, affecting 100 employees. This comes on the heels of a broader downsizing effort by Google last week, which resulted in over 1,000 job cuts spanning various divisions.
YouTube Chief Business Officer Mary Ellen Coe delivered the internal announcement on Wednesday, revealing that the cuts would affect various areas such as business operations, partnerships, and advertising within YouTube.
In response to these organizational changes, TechCrunch reported that a Google spokesperson explained that the company is making strategic investments in key focus areas and aligning resources for future opportunities.
Teams have been undergoing adjustments throughout the latter part of 2023 to enhance efficiency, collaboration, and alignment with primary product objectives. Some teams are currently engaged in organizational changes, including role eliminations on a global scale.
YouTube representative Andrea Faville verified the information previously reported by Tubefilter. The reported layoffs affected approximately 100 positions within the creator partnerships team.
As part of an accompanying restructuring, the remaining team members will be consolidated under dedicated central leadership in each respective country. The reorganization also extends to YouTube's music and support teams, as outlined in the report.
Workers have a 60-day period to find new roles before their dismissals take effect. The spokesperson mentioned ongoing support for impacted employees as they explore opportunities within Google and elsewhere.
Following Previous Workforce Reductions
The Verge reported that these job reductions follow a broader trend within Google, where over 1,000 employees were laid off last week, including engineering, services, and the voice-activated product Google Assistant.
The advertising division of Google also witnessed significant cuts shortly after. Similar to prior instances, affected YouTube staff will have a limited timeframe to secure another role within the company, as there is no guarantee of placement, before considering a severance package.
Also Read: Amazon Restructures Alexa Division, Laying Off Hundreds Amid Shift to Generative AI
While Big Tech's proclaimed "Year of Efficiency" has concluded, Reuters reported that recent workforce reductions at Google and Amazon indicate that these companies are poised to continue job cuts in 2024. This trend is linked to substantial investments in generative AI.
Analysts and industry experts anticipate that this year's layoffs will be more focused and smaller in scale. Companies striving to catch up in the AI race are seen as more likely to implement targeted workforce reductions to balance the considerable expenditures in this technology.
Within the first three weeks of the new year, various tech companies, including Discord, Twitch, Prime Video, MGM Studios, Audible, Duolingo, Instagram, Pixar, Unity, and others, have undergone job reductions.
Related Article: Google Announces Further Workforce Reductions, Targeting Advertising Sales Team
