Certainly and Glassdoor to Slash 1,300 Jobs As Guardian Firm Bets on AI

Two main job-seeking platforms are slashing jobs.

Certainly and Glassdoor are shedding about 1,300 workers as their guardian firm, Japan’s Recruit Holdings, restructures its HR tech empire to double down on synthetic intelligence.

In an inner e-mail to workers on Thursday seen by Enterprise Insider, Recruit Holdings and Certainly CEO Hisayuki “Deko” Idekoba mentioned that the cuts would principally have an effect on US-based roles in analysis, folks operations, and sustainability, as a result of “AI is altering the world” and the corporate should adapt.

“Delivering on this ambition requires us to maneuver sooner, strive new issues, and repair what’s damaged,” wrote Idekoba. “To realize our firm priorities, it requires making a construction and tradition to assist them.”

“We are going to combine Glassdoor operations into Certainly, working towards a less complicated hiring expertise for job seekers and employers,” Idekoba added within the e-mail.

Along with trimming round 6% of the workforce, some long-running leaders throughout each corporations will probably be departing. In accordance with the e-mail, Glassdoor CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong will probably be exiting the corporate on October 1 after a decadelong run. LaFawn Davis, Chief Folks & Sustainability Officer, may also be leaving Certainly in September.

The overhaul comes simply weeks after Idekoba returned as CEO of Certainly, a job he beforehand held from 2013 to 2019.

“We’re in a once-in-a-generation second when expertise can actually change lives,” Idekoba mentioned in June in a press launch. “Hiring remains to be too sluggish and too exhausting, and we’re utilizing AI to make it less complicated and extra private — for each job seekers and employers.

Recruit Holdings acquired Certainly in 2012 and Glassdoor in 2018. It’s unclear if the cuts will probably be evenly distributed between Glassdoor and Certainly.

Certainly has had layoffs two years in a row. In 2024, it lower round 1,000 jobs, which was about 8% of its workforce. The 12 months earlier than, the corporate additionally lower 2,200, which was roughly 15% of its workers.

Certainly didn’t present additional remark to Enterprise Insider. Glassdoor and Recruit Holdings didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.