WordPress owner Automattic announces major layoffs

• WordPress.com, Tumblr and WooCommerce owner Automattic is laying off 16%
• Automattic wants to become more agile and responsive
• Long-term financial viability and profitability is also key

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, Tumblr and WooCommerce, has confirmed it will be laying off approximately 16% of its workforce.

The news is estimated to impact around 280 of its nearly 1,750 employees (via TechCrunch), with CEO Matt Mullenweg confirming HR representatives would be reaching out to affected workers after his email landed in the inboxes of all “Automatticians.”

The usual “financial and support benefits” were promised, with Mullenweg citing profitability as a key driver for the layoffs.

Automattic layoffs

“We have reached an important crossroads,” Mullenweg wrote, illustrating a scenario of continued growth and an equally high competitive market. “We must improve our productivity, profitability, and capacity to invest,” he added.

The leader confirmed that the ...