LinkedIn Announces Layoffs in California, Impacting Bay Area Engineers

LinkedIn, the professional networking giant owned by Microsoft, has announced the layoff of 281 employees in California, including a significant number of engineers in the Bay Area. This reduction in workforce follows a broader trend of cost-cutting measures within the tech industry.

According to a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) document filed with local authorities on Tuesday, May 29, 2025, the affected employees were notified on May 13. The layoffs span across multiple locations, with 159 positions cut in Mountain View, 60 in San Francisco, 23 in Sunnyvale, 11 in Carpinteria, and 28 remote workers residing in California.

The WARN filing indicates that software engineering roles were heavily impacted, with numerous staff and senior software engineers among those laid off in Mountain View. Other affected positions include coding specialists in machine learning, DevOps, systems infrastructure, deal desk strategists, product managers, and designers.

This move aligns with Microsoft’s larger efforts to streamline operations. Earlier this month, reports surfaced about 122 Bay Area employees being laid off as part of a broader 6,000-employee reduction at Microsoft. The company has cited the integration of AI in coding as a factor influencing these decisions. Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, mentioned in April that AI now contributes significantly to the company’s code production.

In its most recent earnings report, Microsoft identified LinkedIn as one of its slower-growing revenue streams. The exact reasons behind the layoffs, details regarding severance packages, and the possibility of further reductions remain unclear. Neither LinkedIn nor Microsoft have provided immediate responses to requests for comment.

Following the announcement, several laid-off LinkedIn employees have taken to the platform to express their disappointment, share their experiences, and seek new opportunities. Their posts highlight the personal impact of these industry shifts.

If you are a tech worker in the Bay Area and want to share your story, contact Stephen Council at [email protected] or on Signal at 628-204-5452.