Indeed, the popular online job marketplace, is laying off 92 employees in Seattle as part of a larger company restructuring that will cut about 1,300 jobs overall. The layoffs are scheduled to begin on September 9, according to a notice filed with Washington state.
In a message to staff, CEO Deko Idekoba said the company needs to adjust to the fast changes brought by artificial intelligence. “AI is changing the world, and we must adapt by ensuring our product delivers truly great experiences for job seekers and employers,” Idekoba wrote.
The job cuts affect around 6% of Indeed’s HR Technology workforce and span multiple teams, including research and development, operations, and human resources. Most of the layoffs are happening in the U.S.
As part of the changes, Indeed is also combining its operations with sister company Glassdoor. Christian Sutherland-Wong, the CEO of Glassdoor, will leave the company on October 1. Owen Humphries will step in as President of Glassdoor and report to Idekoba.
Indeed is also making leadership changes. LaFawn Davis, the company’s Chief People & Sustainability Officer, is leaving in September. She will be replaced by Ayano Senaha, the Chief Operating Officer of Recruit Holdings, which is the Japan-based parent company of Indeed.
Indeed has had a major presence in Seattle since 2018, when it signed a lease for 10 floors in the 2+U tower downtown. As of this year, the company had about 600 employees in the Seattle area.
This is not the first time Indeed has cut jobs. The company laid off about 1,000 workers earlier this year and 2,200 employees in 2023.
The full email sent to employees on July 10 is below:
Email from CEO Deko Idekoba:
Hello,
As I shared in my video a few weeks ago, AI is changing the world, and we must adapt by ensuring our product delivers truly great experiences for job seekers and employers. Delivering on this ambition requires us to move faster, try new things, and fix what’s broken.
To achieve our company priorities it requires creating a structure and culture to support them. To this end, we are taking these steps starting today:
- We anticipate reducing our headcount by approximately 1,300 people across Indeed and Glassdoor, representing ~6% of the HR Technology segment workforce. The reductions are mostly in the U.S. and within the R&D, GRO, and People & Sustainability teams, but span all functions and several countries. All reductions will be in accordance with local labor laws.
- Everyone will be informed of their status within the next hour, or during their local working hours.
- We will integrate Glassdoor operations into Indeed, working toward a simpler hiring experience for job seekers and employers. As a result of this transition, Christian Sutherland-Wong, CEO of Glassdoor, has decided to leave after 10 years with the company, effective October 1.
- Owen Humphries will now report to me as President of Glassdoor and oversee its product, engineering, marketing, and support teams.
- After six years with Indeed, LaFawn Davis, Chief People & Sustainability Officer, has made the personal decision to leave the company, effective September 1. Ayano Senaha (Sena), COO of Recruit Holdings, will step in to lead the team.
Next week your team’s leaders will meet with you to discuss what’s next, our updated organizational structure, and how we will build an even stronger culture.
For those who will be departing, thank you for all you have brought to Indeed and for the support you have given to job seekers and employers around the world.
