Salesforce cuts over 1,000 jobs globally, Australian employees impacted

Salesforce’s global job cuts have started affecting employees in Australia, as the company moves forward with plans to reduce its workforce by over 1,000 roles. The restructuring comes amid a broader shift towards prioritizing artificial intelligence (AI) product sales.

The initial report from Bloomberg did not specify which teams would be impacted, but it appears that some partner account managers have already been affected. While Salesforce has not yet issued an official response, affected employees in Australia have started sharing their layoffs on LinkedIn, signaling the growing reach of the cuts.

The layoffs come at a time when Salesforce is advancing its AI capabilities. In December, the company upgraded its AI platform, Agentforce, to version 2.0, enhancing its ability to help businesses deploy AI-powered agents. The platform, initially launched in September 2023 and made widely available a month later, reflects Salesforce’s increasing focus on AI as a key growth area.

Although Salesforce has yet to confirm whether the job cuts are directly linked to its AI expansion, the shift in hiring priorities suggests a transition towards new growth areas within the company.

Salesforce’s workforce reduction adds to an ongoing trend of layoffs across the tech sector. Several global tech giants, including Google, Microsoft, and Meta, have announced job cuts this year, with many companies streamlining operations and adjusting to shifting business priorities.

As Salesforce continues its AI push, it remains unclear how many more employees in Australia or other markets will be affected. The company has yet to respond to media requests for further details.

For now, the impact on Australian employees highlights the changing dynamics within the industry, as companies balance workforce restructuring with the push for AI-driven innovation.