LinkedIn has cut approximately 875 jobs worldwide, representing 5% of its workforce, with Australian employees among those affected. Sources confirm that members of LinkedIn's Australian leadership team have been eliminated in the cull, described as a "gutted" local leadership. The cuts come despite the platform reporting 12% year-on-year revenue growth in its most recent quarter.
The redundancies are part of a reorganization driven by three pillars: reducing paid media and program spending while focusing on high-return markets; doubling down on growth areas like AI-powered hiring tools, premium subscriptions, and small business offerings; and consolidating teams while embedding AI tools and workflows to accelerate output.
LinkedIn's Chief Marketing Officer Jessica Jensen stated the changes are necessary because "growth is more competitive, infrastructure costs continue to rise and AI is reshaping how work gets done." However, the company denies that AI is directly to blame for the cuts.
This is the second round of layoffs in Australia in a year, though editorial teams spared this time. The cuts follow a broader trend in the tech sector, with over 103,000 roles eliminated globally in 2026 so far, according to Layoffs.fyi. Microsoft, LinkedIn's parent company, has also shed 7,000 employees this year.
Former LinkedIn employee Natalie MacDonald, who was laid off last year, highlighted the irony: "Redundancy has a strange way of shaking not just your financial security, but your sense of professional identity, particularly at a company like LinkedIn, where so much of the platform’s purpose is tied to careers, visibility and opportunity."
Key Takeaways:
- LinkedIn cuts 875 jobs globally (5% of workforce), affecting Australian leadership
- Local team of ~350 employees sees about 10 redundancies
- Cuts occur despite 12% revenue growth; AI cited as reshaping work
- Part of wider tech layoff wave: 103,000+ jobs cut in 2026
- Former employee highlights emotional impact on professional identity
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