4 layoff headlines from February 2025.
February 4, 2025 · Fast Company
Salesforce Lays Off More Than 1,000 While Hiring for Agentforce AI
Salesforce cut more than 1,000 employees in early February 2025 even as it ramped up hiring to sell its Agentforce AI platform. The reductions came as CEO Marc Benioff pushed the CRM giant to reorganize around AI-driven agent products, with displaced workers allowed to apply for other roles. The move underscored a growing pattern of companies reshaping headcount around AI specializations.
February 10, 2025 · Fortune
Meta Cuts 5% of Workforce in 'Performance-Based' Layoffs
Meta laid off about 3,600 employees — 5% of its workforce — in what the company called performance-based terminations. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the move was aimed at 'raising the bar' on talent, but affected workers disputed the characterization. The layoffs came as Meta invested aggressively in AI research and its Reality Labs metaverse division continued to lose money.
February 6, 2025 · Fortune
Workday Cuts 1,750 Employees to Fund AI Expansion
Workday laid off approximately 1,750 employees — 8.5% of its workforce — to redirect spending toward artificial intelligence and new hiring. CEO Carl Eschenbach said the company needed to 'operate with more speed and efficiency' as enterprise software competition intensified, with the restructuring expected to cost $230 million to $270 million in charges. Workday plans to reinvest the savings into its AI-powered HR and finance tools.
February 12, 2025 · CNN
Chevron to Lay Off 15–20% of Global Workforce by End of 2026
Chevron said it would cut 15–20% of its global workforce — up to about 8,000 of roughly 40,000 employees — by the end of 2026, starting with buyouts. The oil major said it was simplifying its structure and targeting $2–3 billion in structural cost cuts through technology, asset sales, and changes to how and where work is done. Retail gas-station staff were not affected.