Technology

Shopify Inc. announced layoffs to keep its team 'fast, sharp and focused.' The specific number of employees affected was not disclosed in the announcement. Spokesperson Ben McConaghy would not provide a number of workers losing their jobs but says in an email to The Canadian Press that the cuts impact a “fraction of a per cent” of Shopify’s team. Financial markets firm LSEG Data & Analytics counted 8,100 Shopify employees as of December 2024. One per cent of that figure amounts to about 81 staff.

Amazon announced plans to cut 14,000 corporate jobs globally, with employees in Canada receiving layoff notifications as part of broader cost-reduction efforts related to AI advancement. The cuts primarily affected managers at levels five to seven across retail, e-commerce, human resources, logistics, and other business divisions.

Toronto-based biotech AI startup BenchSci cut 23% of its staff (about 83 jobs) since May 2025 as it shifts to become an AI-first company, using generative AI tools to automate work previously done by humans. The layoffs include a 20% reduction in software engineering roles and are part of the company's strategy to increase efficiency rather than responding to business challenges.

Microsoft announced layoffs of 9,000 employees globally, representing 4% of its workforce, as part of a major restructuring effort. The article mentions a Microsoft building in Vancouver, BC, Canada, indicating Canadian operations are affected by these layoffs.

Klue Labs CEO Jason Smith announced layoffs of 85 employees (40% of workforce) in June 2025 as part of a strategic shift to integrate generative AI into all operations and improve competitiveness. The company offered voluntary buyout packages while also conducting involuntary layoffs across all departments, with the expectation that remaining employees would embrace AI tools.