Uber Plans 3,300 Job Cuts Worldwide
Uber Technologies is cutting about 3,300 jobs globally, equal to roughly 10% of its workforce. The company announced the move on September 2, 2026, as part of a broad organizational restructuring.
The cuts represent Uber’s largest workforce reduction since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the company says the restructuring focuses on simplifying its organization and speeding up decision-making.
Uber had about 34,000 employees worldwide at the end of 2025. Therefore, the planned reduction represents a significant change in its corporate structure.
Uber Targets Management Layers and Smaller Teams
CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the company added considerable complexity during years of rapid expansion. Consequently, Uber plans to remove layers and consolidate teams across its operations.
The company will reduce the number of employees positioned seven or more reporting layers below the CEO by 20%. It will also cut the number of micro-teams by nearly 50%.
Moreover, Uber plans to consolidate teams where fragmented structures lead to duplication. One major change will merge its three Delivery Operations groups covering Restaurants, Retail, and Direct.
The company will also combine its Core Services Engineering and Science teams. Meanwhile, Uber intends to concentrate more employees within major global, regional, country, and technology hubs.
Uber is also tightening its approach to remote work. Going forward, only about 1% of employees will work remotely, while the company will retain its three-day-a-week office policy.
Robotaxis Drive Strategic Pressure
The restructuring comes as Uber faces increasing competition from autonomous vehicle companies. In particular, Waymo has expanded its robotaxi operations, including services that operate through Uber’s platform in Austin and Atlanta.
At the same time, Tesla continues to develop its own robotaxi operations. As a result, Uber faces pressure to strengthen its position before driverless transportation becomes more widespread.
Uber plans to invest more than $10 billion in robotaxis over the coming years. The company aims to support autonomous-driving developers while positioning its platform as a marketplace for driverless rides.
Importantly, Khosrowshahi did not attribute the workforce reduction directly to artificial intelligence. Instead, Uber’s official explanation centers on organizational complexity, management layers, team structures, and the need to redirect resources.
The company also faces pressure in delivery. DoorDash, Instacart, and other platforms continue to compete with Uber Eats. Meanwhile, Uber has pursued larger-scale expansion through its proposed $14.8 billion acquisition of Delivery Hero.
Savings to Support Future Growth
Uber says the restructuring will generate savings that it can redirect toward growth and innovation. Therefore, the company expects the leaner structure to support faster decisions and greater investment capacity.
The workforce reduction follows several years of significant expansion. According to Khosrowshahi, Uber’s top line has nearly tripled over the past five years, while the company has added products and entered new businesses.
Nevertheless, that expansion created additional reporting layers and fragmented ownership. Uber now wants broader managerial responsibilities and fewer coordination-focused roles.
Uber’s shares rose nearly 2% following the announcement, although the stock had declined by almost 8% amid heightened competitive concerns earlier in 2026.
The latest restructuring therefore reflects a broader strategic shift at Uber. The company is reducing organizational complexity while directing more resources toward autonomous transportation, core mobility, delivery, and other long-term growth opportunities.
