Alphabet, Parent Company of Google, Announces Plans to Cut 12,000 Jobs

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, announced on Friday that it intends to reduce its workforce by 12,000 people. The company is the latest technology company to reduce its workforce after going on a hiring spree during the pandemic and amid concerns about a broader economic slowdown. This is the company’s largest-ever round of layoffs, affecting approximately 6% of the company’s workforce worldwide. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of the company, stated that the business expanded too quickly during the pandemic, which was a time when demand for digital services was at an all-time high. Pichai noted that the company now needs to refocus on products and technologies that are essential to the company’s future, such as artificial intelligence. Pichai mentioned that the layoffs would affect workers in various product categories, job responsibilities, and geographical locations. After realizing that they had overextended themselves in the mistaken belief that the boom brought on by the pandemic represented the new normal, Google has joined the list of other technology companies that have laid off workers. On February 2nd, the company will release its financial results for 2022.