Airbnb Lays Off 30% Recruiting Staff: Report

The job cuts affected 0.4 per cent of the Airbnb's total workforce of 6,800.

Home rental firm Airbnb has laid off 30 per cent of its recruiting staff this week, according to a report in Bloomberg. The job cuts affected 0.4 per cent of the company's total workforce of 6,800. A company spokesperson told the outlet, "We've become a leaner and more focused company over the last three years. The company expects to grow its headcount this year." 

The spokesperson added the company had made a "difficult decision to reorganize and reduce the size of our recruiting team to reflect our hiring projections."

Airbnb added that it is not an indication of more widespread layoffs. In contrast to the 11 per cent growth experienced last year, the company predicted staff growth in the range of 2 per cent to 4 per cent in 2023. Airbnb also plans to expand its overall headcount this year. 

While many of its competitors have reduced their growth projections due to increased borrowing rates and a slowdown in the entire industry, Airbnb has been one of the few IT companies to avoid major layoffs. In the meanwhile, as demand for travel increased following the pandemic, the travel industry mostly remained resilient.