Ride-hailing and delivery giant Uber has announced a major restructuring of its people division, cutting approximately 23% of jobs across its human resources and recruitment teams.
The move comes as the company seeks to streamline operations and improve efficiency under the leadership of newly appointed President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Jill Hazelbaker.
According to an internal memo, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the changes are intended to strengthen the effectiveness of the company’s people operations and position the organization for future growth.
“The changes are necessary to maximize the effectiveness of the People team and the enormous potential ahead of us,” Khosrowshahi reportedly told employees.
Less Than One Percent of Total Workforce Affected
While Uber did not disclose the exact number of affected employees, a company spokesperson indicated that the layoffs account for well under 1% of the company’s global workforce of approximately 34,000 employees.
The cuts primarily impact staff working in recruitment and human resources functions.
Hazelbaker explained that the restructuring is designed to create a more connected and operationally efficient organization.
She noted that some areas within the people division had become fragmented, with overlapping responsibilities and unclear ownership structures.
Focus on Simplifying Internal Operations
The company said the overhaul aims to eliminate inefficiencies and bring support teams closer to the business units they serve.
According to Hazelbaker, certain segments of the organization had developed layers of complexity that slowed decision-making and reduced operational effectiveness.
The restructuring is part of a broader effort by Uber to modernize internal processes and improve coordination across departments.
AI Not Officially Linked to Job Cuts
Although Uber did not directly attribute the layoffs to artificial intelligence, the announcement comes amid growing corporate adoption of AI-powered tools to automate tasks and improve productivity.
The company recently confirmed that it has introduced spending tiers for advanced AI and agent-based software tools used by employees.
Internal limits reportedly begin at $1,500 per month for certain AI applications, with higher allocations available depending on business needs.
Uber’s technology leadership previously indicated that spending on AI initiatives had exceeded planned budgets earlier than expected, highlighting the company’s growing investment in automation and emerging technologies.
Part of Wider Industry Trend
Uber joins a growing number of major technology firms that have restructured teams in recent years as businesses seek to balance operational efficiency with increased investment in artificial intelligence and automation.
While the company maintains that the latest workforce reduction is primarily aimed at organizational effectiveness, the announcement underscores the broader transformation taking place across the technology sector as companies reassess staffing structures and workplace processes.
