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Are there more layoffs coming?

January is historically the worst month for layoffs, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data that dates back to 2000. During the first month of the year, most companies “are doing restructures, reorganizations and setting the direction,” Sarah Rodehorst, co-founder of Onwards HR, told NPR.

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It’s not just tech that’s hit by the wave. Across industries, be it investing giant Goldman Sachs or automaker Ford or beverage brand PepsiCo, several companies are reducing headcount. More firing and less hiring seems to be the mantra for 2023 as fears of recession loom.

Company of interest: Google

The next big mass layoff may be coming from the world’s prime search giant.

Google is reportedly looking to slash 10,000 employees—6% of its workforce, The Information reported in November, citing anonymous sources. And it’s not just a matter of austerity and bad luck: the company is targeting staff that isn’t meeting their performance targets. To assess who ranks at the bottom of the pile, last May, the company introduced a new performance management system designed to help managers “push out thousands of underperforming employees” starting in early 2023.

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