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Stock Markets May 13, 2026 10:22 AM

LinkedIn to Cut Roughly 5% of Workforce as It Reorganizes Around Growth Areas

Microsoft-owned social network plans staff reductions while revenue shows year-over-year acceleration, unnamed sources say

By Avery Klein MSFT

LinkedIn is preparing to reduce its global workforce by about 5% as part of a reorganization that aims to move employees into areas of expanding business, two people familiar with the matter said. The cuts come even as the professional social network, owned by Microsoft, reported accelerating year-over-year revenue growth in the most recent quarter. Company headcount exceeds 17,500 full-time employees worldwide, and one source said the move is not intended to replace workers with artificial intelligence.

LinkedIn to Cut Roughly 5% of Workforce as It Reorganizes Around Growth Areas
MSFT

Key Points

  • LinkedIn plans to cut about 5% of its global workforce as part of a reorganization to focus employees on higher-growth areas of the business.
  • The company, owned by Microsoft, lists more than 17,500 full-time employees worldwide and reported a 12% year-over-year revenue increase in the most recent quarter, according to Microsoft filings.
  • The reductions are occurring amid wider technology-sector job cuts this year and are not described by sources as being intended to replace roles with artificial intelligence.

LinkedIn is set to announce layoffs on Wednesday that will remove roughly 5% of its staff as the company reshapes teams and redirects personnel toward business lines showing stronger growth, two people familiar with the matter said. The move applies to the Microsoft-owned social network and follows a wave of workforce reductions across the technology sector this year.

LinkedIn's global headcount is listed at more than 17,500 full-time employees on the company website. One person who spoke on condition of anonymity said the reorganization is aimed at concentrating resources where demand and revenue momentum are stronger. That person also stated that the decision was not driven by a desire to replace roles with artificial intelligence.

The source material did not identify which specific teams or functions would be affected, and another source confirmed that information about impacted groups was not yet available. The company sells recruiting tools and subscription services, and filings by its parent, Microsoft, show LinkedIn's revenue rose 12% in the most recent quarter compared with the same period a year earlier, an acceleration of growth into 2026.

The announced staffing reduction is framed as part of a reorganization intended to move employees into higher-growth areas of the business. Beyond that rationale, details were limited: the conversations with people familiar with the situation did not specify particular offices, regions, or product teams that would see the cuts.

This action follows broader technology-sector workforce adjustments this year. While LinkedIn's recent revenue trajectory shows an uptick, company leaders are opting to restructure operations and align talent with areas that management deems most promising for future growth. The company has not publicly disclosed the timing, scope beyond the approximate percentage, or the identities of the teams that will be reduced.

Contextual note: The information in this report comes from individuals familiar with internal planning who requested anonymity. The company's public filings were cited for revenue and headcount figures.

Risks

  • Uncertainty over which teams or regions will be affected, since sources were unable to identify the specific groups targeted for cuts - this creates operational and labor-market uncertainty for affected sectors such as recruiting tools and subscription services.
  • Even with reported revenue acceleration, the decision to reduce headcount introduces execution risk for teams that may lose staff during a reorganization and could temporarily disrupt product or service delivery in LinkedIn's business lines.
  • Limited public disclosure on timing and scope beyond the approximate percentage leaves investors and customers with incomplete information on near-term impacts to Microsoft-owned operations.

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