Uber cuts 3,300 corporate jobs and exits two African markets in management overhaul

Restructuring corporate layers

Uber Technologies announced on Wednesday that it will eliminate approximately 3,300 corporate positions, representing about 10% of its global workforce of 34,000 employees. Chief executive officer Dara Khosrowshahi notified staff in an internal email that the company intends to streamline its managerial structure and reduce operating complexity after years of business expansion. The restructuring reduces managerial positions across the company by 20% and cuts the number of micro-teams, where only one or two workers report to a manager, by nearly half. The company also reduced by 20% the number of employees who sit more than seven reporting layers away from the chief executive. Uber noted that affected staff have been notified, though implementation timelines will vary across jurisdictions depending on local legal requirements.

Operational consolidation and office return

Alongside the job reductions, Uber is combining its operational and technology units to accelerate decision-making across product divisions. The company is strictly curtailing remote work arrangements, reinforcing an existing hybrid policy requiring three days per week in physical offices. Khosrowshahi informed employees that only about 1% of the global workforce will remain authorized for full remote work going forward. The company, which is valued at more than $150 billion, has expanded beyond ride-hailing into food delivery through Uber Eats and in-app hotel booking services. In his internal memo, Khosrowshahi explained the rationale behind streamlining the corporate hierarchy.

A leaner organisation will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions, and more time spent building rather than coordinating.

African market exits and previous reductions

The corporate restructuring coincides with complete operational withdrawals from select international markets. Uber announced the immediate termination of its operations in Nigeria and Uganda on Wednesday, exiting both African markets as it redistributes resources toward higher-priority initiatives. The reduction is Uber's largest round of layoffs since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The move follows several labor adjustments across 2026, including a hiring slowdown announced in May and the elimination of 10% of customer service roles in July, both linked to the integration of artificial intelligence tools.

Autonomous vehicle strategy and financial performance

The cost-saving measures occur as Uber prepares to invest $10 billion into expanding its autonomous vehicle footprint amid competition from Tesla and Waymo. Uber currently facilitates autonomous rides in Atlanta and Austin through a partnership with Waymo, while also planning UK robotaxi trials with Wayve following regulatory clearance from Transport for London in August. In his internal address, Khosrowshahi emphasized that the corporate changes aim to fund long-term development.

The changes we're making today are designed to do two things: make Uber simpler and faster, and create more capacity to invest in our future.

Financial results released in August showed second-quarter 2026 revenue grew 12% year-on-year to $14.2 billion, following full-year 2025 revenue of $52 billion. Following the workforce announcement, Uber shares rose between 1.6% and 2% in Wednesday trading, having declined 8% earlier in the year.