Google has laid off over 200 employees from its “Core” organisation, including crucial teams and engineering talent
The restructuring plan also involves relocating certain roles to India and Mexico.
The Core unit, responsible for building the technical foundation of Google’s flagship products and ensuring user online safety, encompasses key technical units such as information technology, Python development, technical infrastructure, security foundation, app platforms, core developers, and various engineering roles, as per Google’s website.
The layoffs primarily affect engineering positions, with at least 50 roles eliminated at the company’s Sunnyvale, California offices, according to filings. Internal documents reviewed by CNBC reveal that many Core teams will be hiring corresponding roles in Mexico and India as part of the reorganisation.
Internal email detailed the layoffs
Asim Husain, vice president of Google Developer Ecosystem, addressed the layoffs in an email to his team, acknowledging the uncertainty and frustration they might provoke. He emphasised that the restructuring aligns with the company’s broader goals, aiming to maintain a global footprint while expanding in high-growth workforce locations closer to partners and developer communities.
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has been reducing headcount since last year, initially announcing plans to eliminate about 12,000 jobs, or 6 percent of its workforce, in response to a downturn in the online ad market. Despite recent rebounds in digital advertising, Alphabet has continued downsizing, with layoffs occurring across various organisations this year.
Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat disclosed in mid-April that the finance department would undergo restructuring, including layoffs and relocation of positions to Bangalore and Mexico City. Similarly, Google’s search chief, Prabhakar Raghavan, revealed plans to build teams closer to users in key markets like India and Brazil, where labour costs are lower than in the U.S.
A robust financial performance
The latest layoffs coincide with Google’s robust financial performance, reporting a 15 percent increase in first-quarter revenue compared to the previous year, along with its first-ever dividend and a $70 billion buyback.
Despite the layoffs, Google remains focused on innovation, with plans to unveil new developer products and tools at its upcoming annual developer conference, Google I/O, on May 14. The company sees generative AI as a transformative force in software development, exemplified by the recent rebrand of its chatbot from Bard to Gemini.
While Google has confirmed the Core reorganisation and layoffs, it reassured employees that affected individuals could apply for open roles within the company and access outplacement services. The spokesperson reiterated the company’s commitment to investing responsibly in its core priorities and seizing significant opportunities ahead.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
