Newark-based Audible is making staff cuts, affecting approximately 5% of its workforce. 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 recent reductions from Audible’s parent company, Amazon. Twitch, the video streaming service acquired by Amazon in 2014, announced on its website on January 10 that it would be cutting over 500 roles. On the same day, an internal email indicated that several hundred jobs across Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios would also 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 make cuts was necessary to position the company for continued success in the face of a challenging landscape. Audible CEO Bob Carrigan wrote, “Getting leaner and more efficient is the way we will need to operate now and in the foreseeable future to continue delivering best-in-class audio storytelling to our customers around the world.”
It is unclear how the cuts will impact Audible’s Garden State employees, as the company’s Glassdoor profile states it employs between 1,000-5,000 people. Amazon did not respond to a request for comment.
Audible relocated to Newark with the aim of improving the lives of those in the cities and countries in which it operates. The company launched the Global Center for Urban Development in 2020, which includes programs such as Newark Working Kitchens and Newark Squared. These initiatives have provided meals, supported local restaurants, and offered incentives to attract and retain businesses in Newark.
Audible also offers a relocation stipend to its employees, which has tripled the number of workers living in the city according to a 2019 economic impact report. The report also stated that Audible’s direct investment of $530 million in the city has resulted in a $775 million impact.