LinkedIn Lays Off Nearly 700 Employees - SHRM
LinkedIn will be laying off 668 U.S. employees across its engineering, product, talent and finance teams, it announced Oct. 16. It is the latest of tech company layoffs during 2023.
www.shrm.orgHere’s the latest I can share based on recent public reporting.
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LinkedIn, the Microsoft-owned professional network, reportedly announced layoffs affecting around 5% of its workforce in May 2026. This move is described as part of a broader tech-layoff wave and aimed at reallocating resources to high-growth areas.[1][4]
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The company’s global headcount exceeds 17,000-18,000 employees, according to public listings, with specific team impacts not always disclosed in early reports. Reuters indicated that exact affected teams weren’t identified in initial disclosures.[2][1]
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The wind-down corresponds to a period of widespread tech cost-cutting in 2026, with several large employers announcing staff reductions to operate more profitably and to enable smaller, more agile teams.[4]
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Related context: LinkedIn had previous rounds of layoffs in 2023 (about 668 U.S. roles) as part of restructuring efforts, including the closure of its China-focused job app. While those events are not the current 2026 round, they illustrate a pattern of periodic workforce adjustments.[6][9]
Illustration of the recent development:
- 5% headcount reduction at LinkedIn announced in May 2026 as part of organizational realignment and efficiency efforts.[4]
If you’d like, I can pull the most current articles and summarize which divisions or functions are reportedly affected, and provide a quick snapshot in a chart. I can also monitor for updates and add citations after each new item.