Social media platform LinkedIn cuts 700 jobs, shuts down China app

The job cuts are the latest layoffs to hit the tech sector in recent months, following losses at Google, Meta and Amazon.

LinkedIn, the social networking platform for professional connections, has announced plans to cut more than 700 jobs and shut down its app for job seekers in China.

In a letter to employees Monday, LinkedIn Chief Executive Ryan Roslansky said the company would cut 716 jobs and remove its China job search app in response to slowing revenue growth and changing on customer behavior.

“In an evolving market, we must continually have the conviction to adapt our strategy to realize our vision,” said Roslansky.

Roslansky said the changes will include creating 250 new roles and integrating some teams, as well as reducing management roles and expanding responsibilities “to make decisions faster.”

“As we turn 20, we are entering a new decade for LinkedIn, one that may be the most important we have experienced to date,” he said.

“AI is just beginning to accelerate changes in the global economy and the job market, and LinkedIn is more essential than ever in helping our members and customers navigate the changes to access economic opportunity.”

The job cuts are the latest layoffs to affect the technology sector in recent months, after the dismissal of more than 100,000 employees on Google, Amazon, Meta, Twitter and Microsoft.

LinkedIn shut down most of its services in China in 2021, citing the increasing difficulty of meeting Chinese government regulatory demands.

The company launched the simplified job search app called InJobs in the country that same year.

LinkedIn, which is based in Sunnyvale, California, will maintain a presence in China to help companies hire and train employees, the Reuters news agency reported, citing a company spokesperson.

As the only major Western social networking site operating in China, LinkedIn faced criticism for cooperating with Chinese censorship, including the blacklisting of journalists critical of Beijing.