Ride-hailing giant Uber is set to lay off around 10% of its global workforce as part of what CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described as “significant organisational changes.”
“Today, we’re making a number of significant organisational changes across Uber,” Khosrowshahi said in a message to employees. “As a result, we will be reducing the size of our team by about 10%.”
Uber has roughly 34,000 employees and operates in more than 70 countries, according to a recent SEC filing.
The company said the layoffs are aimed at making the organisation simpler and faster, while reducing delays caused by internal coordination.
“A leaner organisation will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions, and more time spent building rather than coordinating,” the message said.
Founded in 2009, Uber transformed the urban transportation sector by allowing people to use their own vehicles to offer rides through its platform.
Over the years, the company expanded into food and retail delivery, along with short-distance courier services.
Uber drivers are paid at different rates across markets, and driver groups in several countries have often raised concerns over compensation and operating costs.
Khosrowshahi said the latest restructuring is mainly intended to improve decision-making and simplify how different parts of the business are managed.
The company is also pulling out of some markets. On Wednesday, Uber said it was shutting down operations in Nigeria and Uganda, after exiting Tanzania earlier this year.
The layoffs mark another major restructuring move as Uber looks to streamline its global operations and improve efficiency.
