Full Breakdown
Disney Cuts Several Hundred Corporate Jobs Amid Ongoing Cost-Reduction Drive
By Drooid · · How we work
Latest Layoffs: HR and Tech Roles Targeted
Disney announced a new round of job cuts affecting a few hundred employees, primarily within human-resources and information-technology functions across corporate divisions. The reductions were confirmed by a person familiar with the matter who could not be named publicly. The company warned that the cuts were part of a broader effort to lower labor and SG&A expenses.
Background: Ongoing Restructuring Under CEO Josh D’Amaro
Josh D’Amaro assumed the chief-executive role in March 2024, succeeding Bob Iger. He introduced a “One Disney” strategy aimed at aligning the company’s film, streaming, theme-park, consumer-goods, gaming and sports properties. Since taking charge, D’Amaro has overseen three major layoff waves:
- April 2024 – roughly 1,000 positions eliminated, largely from a newly formed enterprise-marketing unit and from studio and TV businesses.
- July 2024 – several hundred additional cuts across corporate functions, with Pixar and National Geographic experiencing the bulk of reductions.
- September 2026 – the current round focused on HR and tech roles.
The company also offered early-retirement buyouts to executives aged 50 or older with at least ten years of service, a step that typically precedes involuntary cuts.
Data & Statistics
- Disney’s workforce stood at 231,000 employees at the end of fiscal 2025 (172,000 in the United States, 59,000 abroad).
- Approximately 16 % of workers are part-time and 8 % are seasonal, largely due to the theme-park and resort segments.
- Reported layoff figures vary: one source cites “around 300” employees, while another describes “a couple of hundred.”
- Between 2023 and 2025, Disney cut about 8,000 workers, generating cost savings of $7.5 billion, exceeding the company’s original forecasts.
Official Statements & Responses
In a letter scheduled for August 5, D’Amaro and chief financial officer Hugh Johnston reiterated the company’s focus on cost discipline, stating that Disney is “mid-stream” in its reduction efforts and will provide further updates.
On-the-Ground Reports
Employees across the corporation reported heightened anxiety following the September 18 memo from chief legal and global affairs officer Horacio Gutierrez, which warned of “hard choices” and a “transformation process” involving automation and AI. In July, on-air talent such as ESPN anchor Karl Ravech and analyst Ryan Clark were among those laid off, underscoring that the cuts extend beyond back-office staff.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise scale of the September 2026 layoffs: one insider describes “around 300” jobs eliminated, whereas another refers to “a couple of hundred.” No official figure has been released, leaving the exact headcount unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We remain highly focused on reducing costs across the enterprise to create incremental capacity to invest for growth and are evaluating a variety of levers, including reductions in labor and SG&A,” — National Geographic. Disney, in as CEO
What’s Next
Disney has indicated that additional updates on its cost-reduction program will be shared after the August 5 shareholder letter. The company’s ongoing automation initiatives and AI-driven workflow redesign suggest further workforce adjustments may be forthcoming, though no specific timeline has been disclosed.