Indeed and Glassdoor are cutting about 1,300 jobs as their parent company, Japan’s Recruit Holdings, shakes up its HR tech business to focus harder on AI.
The layoffs mainly hit US roles in research, people operations, and sustainability. CEO Hisayuki "Deko" Idekoba sent an internal email explaining the move is about adapting because:
"AI is changing the world"
"Delivering on this ambition requires us to move faster, try new things, and fix what’s broken."
"To achieve our company priorities, it requires creating a structure and culture to support them."
"We will integrate Glassdoor operations into Indeed, working toward a simpler hiring experience for job seekers and employers."
Some senior leaders are leaving too. Glassdoor CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong will exit on October 1 after ten years. Indeed’s Chief People & Sustainability Officer LaFawn Davis is leaving in September.
The cuts trim about 6% of Recruit’s HR tech staff and come just weeks after Idekoba returned as Indeed CEO — a role he had from 2013 to 2019.
The overhaul follows big layoffs at Indeed the past two years: around 1,000 jobs cut in 2024 (8% of workforce), and 2,200 in 2023 (15%).
Recruit Holdings bought Indeed in 2012, Glassdoor in 2018. It’s unclear how the job cuts divide between the two.
Indeed, Glassdoor, and Recruit declined to comment beyond Idekoba’s email.
Idekoba said in June:
"We’re in a once-in-a-generation moment when technology can really change lives."
"Hiring is still too slow and too hard, and we’re using AI to make it simpler and more personal — for both job seekers and employers."
