Ride-hailing company Uber has announced plans to cut about 3,300 jobs, representing roughly 10 percent of its workforce, while also ending its operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect.
The job reductions announced on Wednesday, represent Uber’s largest workforce cut since the COVID-19 pandemic and form part of a broader restructuring as the company seeks to accelerate its investment in autonomous transportation.
In a memo to employees, Uber Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi said the restructuring was intended to reduce management layers and “simplify team structures” as the company works to “build the autonomous future” while increasing investment in drivers, couriers and merchants.
The company confirmed on Thursday that it had withdrawn from Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, and Uganda.
A spokesperson said the decision was “limited strictly to these two markets and does not impact our operations across the rest of the continent.”
“Our immediate priority is supporting drivers, riders and local team members throughout this transition. Uber remains deeply committed to sub-Saharan Africa, where we continue to see robust growth and long-term opportunity,” the spokesperson added.
Khosrowshahi also disclosed plans to reduce by half the number of “micro-teams” where managers oversee only one or two employees.
“A leaner organisation will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions and more time spent building rather than coordinating,” he said.
The CEO further indicated that Uber would significantly reduce remote work, with only about one percent of its employees expected to work remotely going forward.
The latest layoffs come shortly after Uber reportedly cut 10 percent of its customer service positions in July as the company increased its use of artificial intelligence. The company had also announced a slowdown in hiring in May, citing the growing role of AI.
Uber’s restructuring comes as the company faces increasing pressure in the emerging robotaxi industry. The company has announced plans to invest $10 billion to expand its presence in autonomous transportation, although competition and challenges in the sector have intensified.
Waymo currently operates driverless vehicles through Uber in Atlanta and Austin, while it is also expanding independently into other markets. Tesla is similarly advancing its robotaxi ambitions, with its Cybercab expected to feature at an event in Austin, Texas.
Despite the workforce reductions, Uber continues to record strong financial growth. The company’s revenue increased by 18 percent from 2024 to 2025, reaching $52 billion.
Its second-quarter 2026 revenue also rose by 12 percent to $14.2 billion, although the pace of growth slowed compared with the previous year.
Meanwhile, Uber’s share price has declined by about 8 percent since the beginning of 2026, despite gaining more than 1.6 percent in midday trading on Wednesday.
The broader technology sector has also experienced significant job losses. Layoffs.fyi, which tracks employment cuts in the industry, estimates that more than 128,000 workers have lost their jobs across nearly 290 technology companies in 2026 alone.
By: Prince Martey-Sogar