Uber will eliminate roughly 3,300 corporate positions, marking a 10% reduction of its global workforce in the company’s most aggressive restructuring since pandemic-era layoffs.
Chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi told employees Wednesday that the overhaul aims to strip away management layers and consolidate teams, producing what he called a “simpler and quicker” organization. The San Francisco-based ride-hailing giant declined to break down job losses by geography, though offices across multiple countries, including London, will feel the impact.
The cuts represent the largest headcount reduction since 2020, when Uber shed 6,700 workers as ride volumes cratered during Covid lockdowns. Affected staff have already received notifications, though some regions will follow local labor procedures before finalizing departures.
Khosrowshahi framed the decision around five years of expansion that introduced organizational bloat. More coordination layers, fragmented ownership structures, and sprawling reporting lines accumulated as the business scaled, he noted. Certain frameworks that functioned well at smaller sizes no longer fit the company’s current footprint.
The restructuring carries two objectives, according to Khosrowshahi: streamlining operations and freeing up capital for future investments. Among the changes, Uber will merge its operational and technology teams while cutting “micro-teams,” where one or two employees report to a single manager, by nearly half. The number of staff sitting more than seven reporting levels below the CEO will drop 20%.
Meanwhile, the company is tightening its workplace policies. Nearly all employees must now work from offices, with fewer than 1% remaining fully remote. The mandate reinforces a hybrid schedule requiring three in-office days weekly.
The layoffs arrive as Uber pushes into autonomous vehicles. Last month, Transport for London approved the company’s partnership with robotaxi firm Wayve, setting the stage for self-driving taxis on UK roads. Uber also plans to invest $10 billion in its autonomous vehicle division. Separately, a $14.8 billion acquisition of German food delivery giant Delivery Hero awaits completion, intensifying competition with DoorDash in the global delivery market.
Uber now holds a valuation exceeding $150 billion. Khosrowshahi acknowledged the difficulty of the cuts while insisting they position the company for long-term strength.
