Zoom Layoffs Total 150 As Video Giant Turns Attention To 'Critical' Areas, Including AI

In the latest round of tech layoffs in 2024, the videoconferencing giant is cutting 150 jobs as it "rescopes" some roles with a focus on areas of future growth, including AI, sales and product, according to the company.

Zoom Video Communications is carrying out more job cuts. This time, the company is slashing about 150 jobs, according to a report first published by Bloomberg on Thursday.

Zoom, which was a staple for millions of global users working remotely at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been on the decline in popularity as many workers returned to the office and as companies shifted into hybrid models.

A spokesperson for Zoom confirmed the cuts to CRN.

"We regularly evaluate our teams to ensure alignment with our strategy," the spokesperson said. "As part of this effort, we are rescoping roles to add capabilities and continue to hire in critical areas for the future."

The layoffs are not companywide and Zoom plans to continue to hire for roles in artificial intelligence, sales, product and across operations in 2024, according to reports.

The cuts represent "less than 2 percent" of the company's workforce, according to reports that cited people familiar with the matter.

San Jose, Calif.-based Zoom has not responded to CRN's request for information on how the company's channel team will be affected by the most recent round of job eliminations.

According to recent posts on TheLayoff.com, the company's LATAM sales team was impacted by the job cuts, among other departments. On LinkedIn, several employees from various departments took to the platform to confirm they had been included in the new round of layoffs, including an integrated marketing manager and webinar program manager.

Last year at this time, Zoom cut around 1,300 workers, or about 15 percent of its workforce, which hit every organization across the company. Zoom CEO Eric Yuan said at the time that he would reduce his 2023 salary by 98 percent and foregoing his FY23 corporate bonus.

Zoom is not the only tech giant that's grappling with layoffs. Microsoft in January cut 1,900 positions in its gaming division; Google said it was eliminating a few hundred roles in each division inside its Google Assistant software business. Amazon laid off employees across its Prime Video, MGM Studios, Twitch and Audible divisions, with its Twitch business unit losing 500 employees.

Cloud software vendor Okta also on Thursday announced a downsizing that would include 400 jobs, or about 7 percent of its workforce.

Zoom shares are down about 10 percent this year and have declined close to 90 percent from the company's record high in October 2020.