Uber Cuts 3,300 Jobs in Largest Workforce Reduction Since Pandemic Amid Push for Autonomous Future

Uber Technologies has laid off 3,300 employees, representing 10 percent of its workforce, in the ride-hailing company's largest headcount reduction since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced the cuts in a Wednesday memo, explaining that the restructuring aims to eliminate layers of management, simplify team structures, and support the company's autonomous vehicle ambitions while continuing investments in drivers, couriers, and merchants.

As part of the reorganization, Uber will also halve the number of micro-teams where managers oversaw only one or two direct reports. Khosrowshahi emphasized that a leaner organization will foster clearer ownership and faster decision-making. Additionally, the company announced a strict return-to-office mandate, stating that only about one percent of employees will remain remote moving forward.

This latest round of layoffs follows recent customer service reductions tied to increased reliance on artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, Uber faces mounting competition in the robotaxi sector as it plans a $10bn investment. While Waymo currently operates driverless cars through Uber in Atlanta, Georgia, and Austin, Texas, competitors like Tesla are also expanding in the market.

Despite strong financial performance, including an 18 percent revenue jump in the recent annual report and a 12 percent revenue increase in the second quarter of 2026, Uber's stock has struggled, declining 8 percent for the year. According to Layoffs.fyi, tech sector job cuts have surpassed 123,000 employees across nearly 290 companies in 2026 alone.