eBay to cut about 1,000 jobs, 9% of staff, in second round

eBay will lay off about 9% of its workforce, roughly 1,000 jobs, in its second round of job cuts this year, according to an internal memo from chief executive Jamie Iannone first reported on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. An eBay spokesperson confirmed the layoffs, saying they would eliminate about 1,000 positions as the online marketplace simplifies its operations and moves resources to its fastest-growing areas. Affected employees are being told over the following several days.

eBay's cuts are part of a wider pattern in the technology industry this year: companies that are not in financial trouble are still reducing staff in order to free money for new priorities, often artificial intelligence and the parts of the business growing fastest. The message in Iannone's memo, that the strategy is working and cuts are still needed, has become common among large tech firms. For workers, it means job security in tech now depends less on whether a company is profitable and more on whether a particular team sits in an area the company wants to grow.

Two rounds of layoffs in one year at the same company also show how restructuring has become continuous rather than a one-off event. Employees who survive one round increasingly expect another, which affects morale and makes people more open to switching jobs.

For Indian tech professionals and students, the lesson is about skills and positioning rather than one company. Roles linked to AI, data, cloud and the products a company is betting on are being protected or expanded, while roles in mature or shrinking parts of a business are the first to be cut. Indian engineers working for global firms, whether in India or abroad, face the same sorting. Those early in their careers can reduce risk by building skills that move with demand, such as data handling, AI tools and cloud platforms, and by tracking where their employer says it is investing.

What job seekers should do next: watch company results and memos for where money is going, update skills accordingly, and keep a current portfolio of work. Layoffs at large firms often release experienced people into the market, which raises competition for open roles in the short term.

Short-term: About 1,000 eBay employees will be notified of job losses over the coming days. The company's third-quarter results on October 28 will show how it describes the cost and expected savings.

Long-term: eBay plans to put more money into its fastest-growing areas. Across the industry, the pattern of cutting in mature areas while investing in AI and growth segments is likely to continue.

Who is affected: eBay employees and their families, job seekers competing with laid-off tech workers, recruiters, and eBay's sellers and buyers if services are reorganised.

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