Google parent to cut 12,000 jobs in latest blow to tech sector

By Jeffrey Dastin, Reuters

Google's parent Alphabet is eliminating about 12,000 jobs, or 6 per cent of its workforce, the company confirmed in the latest cuts to shake the technology sector.

Sundar Pichai, Alphabet's chief executive, said in a staff memo that the company had rapidly expanded headcount in recent years "for a different economic reality than the one we face today."

"I take full responsibility for the decisions that led us here," he said.

The cuts come days after rival Microsoft said it would lay off 10,000 workers.

Alphabet's job losses affect teams across the company including recruiting and some corporate functions, as well as some engineering and products teams.

The layoffs are global and impact US staff immediately. It is not yet clear how the cuts will impact Ireland – Google employs 7,000 people in the State and occupies several buildings in Dublin.

Alphabet has already emailed affected employees, the memo said, while the process will take longer in other countries due to local employment laws and practices.

The news comes during a period of economic uncertainty as well as technological promise, in which Google and Microsoft have been investing in a burgeoning area of software known as generative artificial intelligence.

"I am confident about the huge opportunity in front of us thanks to the strength of our mission, the value of our products and services, and our early investments in AI," Pichai said in the note.