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Google, Salesforce, Cruise, Okta, Workday: The Layoff Wave Isn’t Over

Tech giants are cutting deep, Google's voluntary buyouts, Interactive CV's, and more

Author

Stephanie Sakoda
February 06, 2025

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👋 Welcome, Jobseekers

The global labor market is slowing, layoffs are rolling in, and even the biggest names are feeling the pinch. Salesforce is cutting 1,000 roles while ramping up AI-related hiring, Cruise is slashing nearly 50% of its workforce, Okta’s trimming another 180 jobs, and chip giant STMicro is eyeing up to 3,000 cuts. With tech reshuffling priorities and skills becoming the new currency, now is the time to rethink job security and whether “job insurance” could be your safety net in this ever-changing market. Let’s break it down.

  • 🧑‍✈️ Career CoPilot: Google’s Voluntary Buyouts for up to 25,000 employees

  • 📈 Trends & Data: Global Hiring Cools - Adaptability Becomes Top Skill

  • 📉 Layoff Report: Salesforce, Workday, Cruise, Okta, STMicro with large layoffs

  • 💼 Jobs: Product Designers, Software Engineers, CROs

  • 🔧 Jobseeker Tools: Interactive CV, JobJump, Simplify Copilot

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Google’s Voluntary Buyouts for Up to 25,000 Employees

Google’s latest move to offer voluntary buyouts to employees in its hardware and platforms divisions signals more than just internal cost-cutting—it's a telling sign of tech giants continuing to recalibrate their priorities post-pandemic growth.

The Details

  • Scope: Google’s hardware and platforms teams, including units tied to Pixel, Nest, and its other devices, have been offered voluntary buyouts.

  • Restructuring Context: As part of Google's ongoing efficiency efforts, this step follows a wave of cost-cutting measures across other business areas.

  • Precedent: Alphabet already laid off 12,000 workers in 2023, joining other tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft in mass layoffs.

  • Objective: The buyout aims to reduce headcount without initiating a full-scale round of mandatory layoffs, while strategically refocusing resources on key growth areas.

Why it Matters

  • Trend Reflection: Even dominant players like Google are shifting to a leaner operational model in response to slowing tech revenue growth, signaling that the industry’s post-pandemic correction is far from over.

  • Job Market Impact: With new layoffs looming, this presents both challenges and opportunities for the broader talent pool—especially for hardware engineers, product managers, and tech specialists. Offboard helps bridge this transition by fast-tracking job seekers toward new opportunities.

  • Strategic Pivots: As Google doubles down on software, AI, and cloud initiatives, tech workers across other big firms should brace for similar restructuring—further highlighting the need for proactive career support solutions.

This reshuffling reinforces the importance of platforms that empower employees with faster career re-entry and support during unpredictable transitions.

Tech Job Roundup

Here’s some roles we’ve hand-picked for you this week: 

Global Hiring Cools - Adaptability Becomes the Top Skill

The global labor market is showing signs of stabilization, but that doesn’t mean smooth sailing ahead. As hiring levels cool from their post-pandemic highs, workers and businesses are adjusting to a new, more measured pace.

The Details

  • Hiring Slows: The LinkedIn Hiring Rate has fallen 7.6% globally year-over-year, showing that the labor market is stabilizing but not shrinking dramatically.

  • Regional Differences:

    • U.S.: Hiring down 13% YoY.

    • Europe: The U.K. and Germany have seen a 14% and 13% drop, respectively.

    • Asia: India’s hiring rates are slightly more resilient, with just a 3% dip.

  • Industry Shifts:

    • Tech and real estate sectors have seen sharper declines, while healthcare and education remain more stable.

    • Skills Pivot: Job postings increasingly demand adaptable, cross-functional skill sets, such as combining tech and operational expertise.

  • Remote Work: Remote roles have leveled off, now representing 12% of job postings globally, down from the pandemic high of 16%.

Why it Matters

  • Hiring Freeze or Just Cooling Off? Companies are recalibrating hiring strategies after overexpansion during the tech boom, meaning job seekers need to stay agile.

  • The Skill Shift: Professionals who can blend digital literacy with soft skills like communication, project management, and cross-functional collaboration will remain in demand.

  • Implications for Tech Workers: While tech layoffs may dominate headlines, opportunities remain for those who adapt and tap into emerging roles beyond traditional tech hubs.

Navigating this “new normal” isn’t about waiting for the market to rebound but proactively pivoting and reskilling.

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JobJump

Description: AI Interview Copilot. Stand out in job interviews with personalized AI assistance.

Simplify Copilot

Description: Simplify helps you autofill job applications, tailor resumes, and automatically track applications you submit – all for free.

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