Google has laid off hundreds of employees from its Platforms and Devices unit, which oversees key products such as Android, Pixel, and the Chrome browser. The latest round of job cuts is part of the tech company’s ongoing efforts to streamline operations and improve efficiency across teams.
The layoffs follow a voluntary exit programme offered in January to employees within the same unit. That programme was introduced after Google combined its Platforms and Devices teams last year to ensure closer collaboration and faster execution. The company had indicated then that a leaner structure was part of its long-term strategy.
This is not the first round of layoffs at Google this year. In February, the company also trimmed its cloud division, although it stated that only specific teams were impacted at the time.
Not too long ago, a broader workforce reduction plan announced in January 2023, when Google revealed its intention to cut about 12,000 jobs globally, or roughly six per cent of its workforce.
The latest cuts underscore the company’s ongoing restructuring efforts amid a challenging economic environment and increased pressure to deliver on innovation while reducing costs. Google has been trying to realigning resources toward core growth areas such as artificial intelligence and cloud services for some time now.
While Google has not disclosed the exact number of employees affected in the current layoff round, the scale suggests a significant impact on teams central to its product development and software ecosystem. The company is expected to continue optimising its workforce as part of its shift towards a more agile and focused operational model.
