Newark-based Audible is making cuts to its workforce, with approximately 5% of staff being affected. The layoffs were first reported by Business Insider on January 11, based on an internal email from the online audiobook and podcast service. This follows similar reductions from Audible’s parent company, Amazon. Twitch, a video streaming service acquired by Amazon in 2014, announced on its website that it would be cutting over 500 roles. Additionally, Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios indicated in an internal email that several hundred jobs would be eliminated. According to Reuters, Amazon laid off more than 27,000 people in 2022.
Audible, which moved its headquarters to Newark in 2007 and was purchased by Amazon for $300 million in 2008, stated in the email that the decision to reduce staff was made to position the company for continued success in the face of a challenging landscape. Audible CEO Bob Carrigan emphasized the importance of becoming leaner and more efficient while maintaining a commitment to delivering high-quality audio storytelling to customers worldwide.
The impact of these cuts on Audible’s Garden State employees is not yet clear. The company’s Glassdoor profile indicates that it employs between 1,000-5,000 people. Amazon did not provide a comment on the matter.
Audible’s presence in Newark aligns with its corporate principle of improving the lives of those in the cities and countries where it operates. The company launched the Global Center for Urban Development in 2020, which has led to initiatives such as Newark Working Kitchens and Newark Squared. These programs aim to support local businesses and attract new ones to the city. Audible also offers a relocation stipend to its employees, which has contributed to an increase in the number of workers living in Newark. The company’s direct investment in the city has had a significant economic impact.
Despite these recent layoffs, Audible remains optimistic about its future and the impact it can continue to make in Newark and beyond.