LinkedIn Cuts Jobs, Closes Austria Office and Shifts Content/Research Teams to Shared Service Model

LinkedIn announced layoffs and scaling back of some investments on May 13, 2026. The company is making changes to its Product orgs to create more agile teams, according to an internal memo. Hari Srinivasan, who became chief people officer of the LinkedIn Ecosystem in March 2026, sent the memo outlining three shifts the company is planning.

"Our fastest moving teams are focused, have fewer layers, and leverage AI to move quickly," Srinivasan wrote. " Srinivasan wrote that two shifts are changing operations: tools that let teams ship faster and growing infrastructure costs for intelligent products requiring prioritization.

LinkedIn is evolving its operating model for Content Design and User Research from embedded teams to a shared service model.

In this setup, teams can utilize off-the-shelf UX resources themselves while expert researchers focus on the most complex work. The company is also shifting its learning content model from large-scale original in-house production to a model where instructors produce and monetize their teaching directly on LinkedIn.

" The new instructor model will allow the in-house team to focus on "high-impact, differentiated learning experiences that are best built internally," Srinivasan wrote.

As part of this change, LinkedIn will close its physical office in Graz, Austria. LinkedIn started allowing creators to monetize their content through video in 2025. The latest shift appears to expand revenue opportunities for instructors who can build a voice on the platform across multiple tools and license their teachings directly.

Affected employees in EMEA and APAC consultative countries were to receive calendar invitations titled "Attendance Required: Product Organizational Updates" within one hour of the memo on May 13, 2026. Meetings for impacted employees began on May 13, 2026 for EMEA and NAMER, and on May 14, 2026 for APAC. Daniel Shapero is CEO of LinkedIn.

In a note to staff, he informed employees of the layoffs and the need to simplify how work gets done and focus product investments. Srinivasan followed up with details on the operational changes and their rationale. Microsoft has been removing management layers and creating more focused teams.

Microsoft CFO Amy Hood recently sent an internal memo to employees highlighting increased pace and tighter, more accountable squads. " The memo reminded staff that LinkedIn's mission to connect people to opportunity has never been more relevant. Srinivasan noted the company's engaged community, unique data and diversified business model position it well in a changing world of AI and technology.