Uber despide a 3,300 empleados en los mayores recortes desde la pandemia

Uber has laid off 3,300 employees, representing 10 percent of its workforce, marking the largest personnel reductions since the start of the pandemic. The decision, outlined in a memo sent to staff on Wednesday, was made by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi as part of broader restructuring efforts aimed at streamlining operations and preparing for the future of autonomous transportation. The layoffs follow a pattern of cost-cutting measures initiated earlier this year. In May, Uber announced a hiring freeze, citing the increasing role of artificial intelligence in its operations. A similar move occurred in July, when the company eliminated 10 percent of its customer service positions, again attributing the change to AI integration. These steps reflect a strategic shift toward automation and efficiency, particularly within the company's ambitious robotaxi division. Khosrowshahi emphasized that the restructuring would reduce management layers and simplify team structures. He noted that the company would halve the number of micro-teams, small units with only one or two direct reports, which he claimed had limited effectiveness. According to the memo, the goal is to create a leaner organization with clearer ownership, faster decision-making, and more time dedicated to product development over administrative coordination. The CEO also stated that going forward, only approximately 1 percent of Uber’s workforce will remain remote, pushing most employees back to physical offices. This policy aligns with broader trends among tech firms seeking to enhance collaboration and oversight during periods of financial uncertainty. Despite these challenges, Uber reported strong financial performance in recent quarters. Its revenue increased by 18 percent between 2024 and 2025 to $52 billion. Although growth slowed slightly in the second quarter of 2026, with revenue rising 12 percent to $14.2 billion, the company continues to operate in a competitive landscape. Meanwhile, Khosrowshahi’s compensation in 2025 was 360 times higher than the average employee salary, highlighting the disparity between executive pay and worker wages. On Wall Street, however, investor confidence has wavered. Uber’s stock has declined by 8 percent this year, though it saw a slight increase of more than 1.6 percent during midday trading on Wednesday. The company faces mounting pressures in its robotaxi initiatives, as competitors such as Tesla and Waymo continue to expand their presence in the autonomous vehicle space. Waymo currently operates driverless cars through Uber in Atlanta and Austin, while Tesla prepares to unveil its Cybercab in Austin later this week. The broader context of the tech industry reveals a trend of widespread layoffs. According to Layoffs.fyi, a platform tracking job cuts in the technology sector, over 123,000 employees have been dismissed across nearly 290 companies in 2026 alone. This underscores a challenging environment for tech firms navigating economic shifts and evolving consumer demands. As Uber moves forward with its restructuring plan, the focus remains on adapting to new technologies and maintaining operational agility. The company’s long-term success will depend on how effectively it balances innovation with cost control, especially as it competes against rapidly advancing rivals in the autonomous transportation arena.