The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
Information / Computing Computing infrastructure, data processing, hosting and other information service activities Computing infrastructure, data processing, hosting and other information service activities 63 - Computing infrastructure, data processing, hosting and other information service activities
280 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
3 April 2025
Employment effect (start)
3 April 2025
Foreseen end date
10 June 2025
Description
American technology company Automattic, has announced a global restructuring involving the dismissal of approximately 280 employees, representing 16% of its workforce across 90 countries.
The programme will affect all divisions and geographies. So far, the sources indicate that the layoffs will affect employees in Ireland (4 out 21 people lost their jobs) and the US. The layoffs affect multiple divisions, including WooCommerce, Tumblr, and AI-focused teams, with roles in sales, marketing, product management, design, and business operations particularly impacted. The restructuring is not being negotiated with employee representatives. Automattic offers nine weeks of severance, laptop retention, and job placement support.
The decision aims to improve productivity, profitability, and agility amid a highly competitive tech market and follows a challenging year marked by legal disputes and internal tensions.
Founded in 2005, Automattic, best known as the creator of WordPress, Tumblr and WooCommerce, operates a remote-first model and manages a portfolio of digital tools and services. The company operates with a fully remote workforce, employing over 1,770 employees in 90 countries.
Eurofound (2025), Automattic, Internal restructuring in World, factsheet number 202679, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://dev.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/202679.
Digitisation and automation technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), can affect working conditions in a variety of ways and their use in the workplace raises a host of new ethical concerns.
The retail banking sector is fertile ground for studying the impacts of digitalisation on work and employment. Financial services are increasingly provided online, without the intermediary of customer-facing institutions.
European labour markets have recovered strongly from COVID-19. By the end of 2021, little more than 18 months after the start of the pandemic, employment rates in the EU were almost at pre-crisis levels.
