Netflix announced another round of layoffs. As reported by multiple outlets, including The Hollywood Reporter, the streaming giant cut about 3% of its workforce, consisting of 216 employees in the U.S. There were 30 in Asia-Pacific countries; 53 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and 17 in Latin America.
“We know these two rounds of layoffs have been very hard for everyone — creating a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. We plan to return to a more normal course of business going forward. And as we cut back in some areas, we also continue to invest significant amounts in our content and people: over the next 18 months, our employee base is planned to grow by 1.5K to 11.5K,” Netflix co-chiefs Reed Hastings and Ted Sarandos wrote in a statement.
A Netflix spokesperson also explained that the layoffs were made so that the streamers’ costs were growing in line with their slower revenue growth.
Last month, Netflix laid off 150 staffers based in their Los Angeles office. Many were from the animation department or contractors working for their social media and publishing channels that focused on underrepresented communities like Strong Black Lead, Con Todo, Most and Netflix Golden. There were also major layoffs at Tudum, a Netflix fan site run by the company’s marketing division.
In April, Netflix announced they had lost over 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter of 2022.