LinkedIn cuts 716 jobs as it phases out its China app

LinkedIn is eliminating 716 positions and will start phasing out its local applications for jobs in China. In a statement that was released today LinkedIn Chief Executive Ryan Roslanky explained that the decision to shut down the separate China application, which is dubbed InCareer is a result of “fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate.”

With the intention of reducing some positions, LinkedIn, which is controlled by Microsoft which has around 20,000 employees intends to offer around 250 jobs in specific sections of its business, as well as the company will launch new accounting and business management teams will be launched on the 15th of May.

LinkedIn is the latest technology firm, which ranges in dimensions from Google and Amazon as well as startups. It is also the first company to announce cuts. The parent company, Microsoft, said it cut 10,000 jobs roughly 5 percent of its workforce across the globe, in January.

In Career was introduced in the month of December in 2021. It was a few months after LinkedIn declared that it would be shutting the main LinkedIn platform in China. The reason for the closure of LinkedIn China was attributed by the company to a more difficult operating environment and increased compliance requirements.

In Career was designed to assist professionals from the China network locate and submit applications for positions however it had to compete against rivals like Maimai the leading professional network in China, with more than 120 million registered users According to the website. Maimai’s strengths include the capability to post posts in a non-public manner and make it a favorite destination for those who want to express their opinions or learn more about their employers.

LinkedIn intends to phase out InCareer by September 9 as it shifts it’s China strategy to assist firms that operate in China hire or recruit and train foreign workers. This indicates that the company will continue to maintain its Talent Marketing and Learning businesses in China.

LinkedIn cuts 716 jobs as it phases out its China app who are protected by U.S. benefits will receive benefits such as severance pay and continuing health insurance and career transition support for employees who are not in within the U.S. will get benefits that are compatible with local regulations and laws regarding labor.

The layoffs as well as the phasing out are the result of the changes LinkedIn is changing the Global Business Organization (GBO) as well as its China strategy. In the course of this, LinkedIn is sunsetting its Business Productivity group. The company also plans to eliminate managerial roles, and utilize additional vendors in order to “serve emerging and growth markets more effectively.”

Roslansky declared that he is expecting that the fiscal year 2024 will “remain difficult. “We’re adapting as we have done this year and will continue to operate with the ambition we need to deliver on our vision and the pragmatism required to run the business well,” Roslansky said in his statement.

In the course of Microsoft’s most recent quarterly report on earnings, released in April LinkedIn revealed a 8 percentage rise in revenues year-over-year. In its report prior to this one, Microsoft warned it expected revenues to fall to low single digits in the final quarter of this year, because of a decrease in the hiring process and spending on advertising.