Google Layoffs Hit Chrome, Pixel Teams: See Who’s Affected

More changes at Google. It seems like just yesterday we were talking about potential buyouts. Now? Layoffs. Hundreds of employees are out at Google’s platforms and devices unit, according to a report by The Information.

What’s going on?

Google says it’s all about efficiency. They’re trying to be more “nimble. ” Think of it like a sports team trimming the fat to become more competitive. Ouch.

“Since combining the Platforms and Devices teams last year, we’ve focused on becoming more nimble and operating more effectively and this included making some job reductions in addition to the voluntary exit program that we offered in January,” a Google spokesperson told the outlet.

But it still stings. Imagine going to work one day and finding out your job is gone.

Who’s Affected? The Chrome and Pixel Connection

The platforms and devices team is a big one. It was created in April 2024 by merging the Android and Chrome divisions with the team responsible for Pixel phones and Chromebooks. That’s a lot of tech under one roof.

Back in January, this team had over 20,000 employees. That’s a small city! Before these layoffs, more than 1,400 employees signed a petition asking for more job security and buyouts. They saw this coming.

It’s not clear how many people took the buyout offer. And we don’t know exactly how many are affected by these layoffs.

Google’s Hiring. .. But Still

The Google spokesperson mentioned they’re still hiring for some positions, both in the U. S. and around the world. There’s that.

But losing your job still hurts. It’s like being told you’re not needed, even if the company is hiring elsewhere.

Not the First Time: A Trend in Tech?

This isn’t Google’s first major job cut. In January 2023, they reduced their workforce by 12,000 roles. That’s about 6% of their global workforce. By the end of 2024, they had over 183,000 employees.

Google isn’t alone. Meta, the company behind Facebook, cut around 5% of its workforce in February. It seems like the whole tech industry is tightening its belt.

What does this mean for the future of tech jobs? That’s the big question.