Salesforce, the cloud software giant, is reportedly planning to slash around 1,000 jobs, according to a Bloomberg report. At the same time, the company is aggressively hiring sales staff to push its AI-powered agent products. The move reflects a growing shift in the tech industry—where artificial intelligence is reshaping priorities, sometimes at the cost of existing roles.
Layoffs Amid AI Expansion
Salesforce hasn’t officially announced which departments will see job cuts, but reports suggest employees with transferable skills may have opportunities to reapply for internal roles. The company, under investor pressure to maintain profit margins, is balancing cost-cutting with AI-driven growth.
This isn’t Salesforce’s first round of layoffs. The company let go of 700 employees in January 2024 and another 300 in July 2024. With this latest reduction, more than 2,000 employees would have been laid off in just over a year.
But it’s not all bad news for job seekers. AI is the company’s new focus, and Salesforce is actively hiring sales personnel to promote its AI-powered AgentForce platform. In December 2024 alone, Salesforce secured over 1,000 paid deals for the product, signaling strong demand.
A Closer Look at the Numbers
Salesforce had around 73,000 employees as of January 2024, meaning this latest round of layoffs represents a little over 1% of its workforce. While a relatively small cut, it adds to the ongoing trend of job reductions across the tech industry.
For perspective:
- Meta recently announced a 5% workforce reduction, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasizing a push to “move out low performers faster.”
- Amazon, Microsoft, and other major tech firms have also continued layoffs post-pandemic, shifting focus to AI and automation.
- Layoffs.fyi reports that 30 tech companies have already let go of more than 6,000 employees in 2025 alone.
Salesforce’s strategy reflects this industry-wide transformation. Companies are shedding traditional roles while expanding teams dedicated to artificial intelligence and automation.
AI Takes Center Stage
At a recent company event, Salesforce previewed new tools allowing businesses to build AI-powered bots for customer service, recruitment, and other functions. AI-driven automation is no longer just an emerging trend—it’s becoming the backbone of modern enterprise software.
AgentForce, Salesforce’s AI agent platform, is one of the company’s flagship offerings. The recent hiring spree for sales personnel highlights the company’s commitment to driving adoption of this technology. The question is: how will displaced employees fit into this evolving landscape?
What Comes Next?
Salesforce hasn’t officially commented on these layoffs yet. However, it’s expected to release its fourth-quarter earnings report by the end of February 2025, where investors will be watching closely for any announcements.
For now, tech workers are bracing for continued job cuts as AI reshapes the industry. While some roles are disappearing, others are emerging. The challenge for employees will be adapting to these shifts—whether within Salesforce or elsewhere in the rapidly changing tech job market.
