In July 2025, it emerged that the large Japanese group Recruit Holdings, owner of the online job search platforms Indeed and Glassdoor, has initiated a new wave of large-scale redundancies. The decision will affect about 1,300 employees, or about 6 per cent of the total staff in the company's HR department.
The layoffs will mainly take place in the United States, where the key divisions of both brands are concentrated, but will also involve other countries. In particular, technical teams, product development departments, and HR and sustainability departments will be affected.
Reasons for layoffs and new strategic orientation
According to official management statements, the main objective of the restructuring is to unify Indeed and Glassdoor's structures to increase efficiency and reduce duplicated functions. This will speed up the implementation of new solutions, revise the management model and restructure the business in a more compact and flexible way.
The company representatives emphasise that the changes underway are not just a response to external challenges, but part of a long-term strategy. The emphasis is on increasing the speed of digital product releases, reducing internal costs and overhauling the organisation of work.
Changes in management
In addition to changes among ordinary employees, there have also been changes at the top. The managing director of Glassdoor will leave the company, as the brand will be de facto integrated into Indeed's structure. The head of sustainable development will also leave his post, replaced by a new top manager from head office.
The merger of the two main recruiting services under a single management allows the company to consolidate resources and reduce operating costs, which is crucial in a context of increasing competition from more automated and customised recruitment platforms.
Context and consequences
This represents the third major wave of redundancies for Recruit in the last two years. Already in 2023 and 2024, the company had cut more than 3,000 employees. Management justified these decisions with the adaptation to new market conditions and the desire to adopt a more sustainable business model.
The news provoked mixed reactions within the company. Many employees expressed their disappointment on social media, pointing out that they had to leave the team despite their achievements and participation in major projects. Some said they were concerned about the speed with which priorities change, even in companies hitherto considered to be among the most stable employers.
A signal for the entire industry
For the recruitment industry, these events represent an alarming but consistent signal: the world of work is changing rapidly and companies are forced to choose between traditional models and more technological and flexible approaches. However, behind the numbers of reports and presentations, there are people who have to face a professional reconversion in an ever-changing environment.
Indeed and Glassdoor were symbols of the digital revolution in the world of work. Now they are undergoing a transformation - perhaps one of the greatest in their history.
