Additional Coverage:
- Disney rushes to cut nearly 1,000 jobs as layoffs hit marketing division amid rising global tensions (themirror.com)
Disney Plans Layoffs Amid Economic Uncertainty and Rising Costs
The Walt Disney Company is preparing to reduce its workforce by approximately 1,000 employees in the coming weeks, marking its first round of layoffs under new CEO Josh D’Amaro, who assumed the role in March. This move comes amid increasing economic uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions with Iran and rising oil prices.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the majority of layoffs will affect Disney’s marketing department. Notably, planning for these reductions began prior to D’Amaro’s official start date. Disney last conducted a large-scale workforce cut in 2023, when it eliminated around 7,000 jobs.
As of the end of fiscal year 2025, Disney employed about 231,000 people globally, with approximately 172,000 based in the United States. Around 76% of the company’s workforce are full-time employees.
D’Amaro, who joined Disney in 1998 and previously served as chairman of Disney Experiences, is overseeing a strategic initiative called Project Imagine. This effort aims to consolidate previously separate marketing units-including entertainment, experiences, and sports-under a single chief marketing officer to streamline operations and reduce costs.
Disney is not alone in making workforce cuts. Sony Pictures Entertainment has announced plans to eliminate hundreds of jobs across its television, film, and corporate divisions.
Meanwhile, Oracle recently undertook one of the largest tech layoffs in recent memory, reportedly cutting between 20,000 and 30,000 positions. Employees were notified via early morning emails on March 31, prompting shock and dismay across the company.
Oracle, co-founded by billionaire Larry Ellison in 1977, is known for its pioneering work in autonomous databases and AI-powered cloud applications.
The current wave of layoffs at these major corporations highlights ongoing challenges in the global economy, as companies adjust to shifting market conditions and rising operational costs.