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Uber is cutting roughly 10% of its global workforce in its largest round of layoffs since the COVID-19 pandemic.
CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced the Uber layoffs in a message to employees on Wednesday, September 2. The company expects the restructuring to simplify its operations while creating more room for future investments.
Uber employs about 34,000 people across more than 70 countries. Bloomberg reported that the cuts could affect approximately 3,300 employees and reduce the company’s workforce to below 30,000.
Uber Layoffs Target Management Layers
Khosrowshahi said the restructuring will focus on making Uber’s organization simpler and faster.
The company plans to reduce management layers and eliminate small teams that have only one or two employees. Uber expects the changes to streamline decision-making and make its teams more efficient.
The cuts will affect about 20% of employees working seven organizational levels below the CEO, according to Khosrowshahi. The company also plans to eliminate roughly half of its so-called micro-teams.
A company spokesperson told Bloomberg that managers and some other employees will make up much of the affected workforce.
Uber Plans More Investment After Cuts
Despite the workforce reduction, Uber says the savings will help fund its next stage of growth.
Khosrowshahi told employees that the company plans to put more resources into drivers, couriers and its autonomous technology ambitions.
Autonomous transportation has become an increasingly important part of the company’s long-term strategy. Uber faces growing competition from robotaxi companies as the technology develops.
The company has partnerships and competition involving autonomous ride-hailing providers, including Waymo and Zoox. Investors are watching closely as the industry changes and traditional ride-hailing companies adjust to new competitors.
Remote Workers Face New Office Rules
The Uber layoffs come alongside a significant change to the company’s remote-work policy.
Khosrowshahi said Uber will ask the vast majority of its remote employees to return to company offices. The company plans to enforce a hybrid policy requiring employees to work from an office three days each week.
The company’s two main hubs are San Francisco and New York.
Less than 1% of Uber’s workforce will be permitted to work remotely under the new approach, according to the CEO. Uber will continue operating regional and international offices as part of its global structure.
Uber Layoffs Are Largest Since 2020
The latest Uber layoffs represent the company’s biggest workforce reduction since 2020.
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Uber eliminated about 3,700 jobs, representing roughly 14% of its workforce at the time. The company later announced another round of about 3,000 job cuts and plans to close dozens of offices.
Uber has made smaller workforce reductions in recent years. In June 2026, the company announced plans to eliminate about 23% of its people division, which represented less than 1% of its overall workforce.
The latest restructuring is significantly broader and affects employees across the company.
Uber Stock Reacts to Layoff News
Uber shares moved slightly higher after the announcement on Wednesday morning.
However, the company’s stock remained down about 7.7% for the year, according to Forbes. Uber’s performance has also trailed the broader S&P 500 index during the same period.
The company’s latest restructuring comes as it looks to control costs, simplify its organization and prepare for changes in the transportation industry.
Uber’s roughly 10 million drivers are primarily classified as independent contractors and are not included in the company’s employee headcount.
Source: Forbes
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