Disney Begins Mass Layoffs to 'Foster a Technologically-Enabled Workforce'

Hollywood continues to contract and dwindle as Disney trims over 1,000 jobs across the company.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:51pm

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A minimalist, high-end studio still-life photograph featuring a sleek laptop computer, desk lamp, and geometric office accessories arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing Disney's corporate strategy shift and technological transformation.Disney's mass layoffs signal the entertainment giant's push to build a more technologically-enabled workforce amid broader industry upheaval.Los Angeles Today

Disney has announced a new round of layoffs, cutting over 1,000 jobs across the company in an effort to streamline operations and create a 'more technologically-enabled workforce.' The layoffs will impact divisions including Hulu, FX, ESPN, ABC News, and Marvel, as well as corporate offices, finance, and technology. Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro says the cuts are not a reflection on past work but a necessary move to adapt to the 'fast-moving pace' of the industry.

Why it matters

Disney's mass layoffs are the latest sign of the major contraction happening across the entertainment industry. The cuts come just a day after rival Sony Pictures announced its own strategic layoffs, highlighting the pressures and challenges facing Hollywood as it navigates a shifting media landscape and declining theater attendance.

The details

Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro told employees in a memo that the 1,000-employee workforce reduction is both a cost-saving and efficiency measure. D'Amaro said the company has 'looked at ways in which we can streamline our operations in various parts of the company to ensure we deliver the world-class creativity and innovation our fans value.' He added that the layoffs will be felt across the company and will not be targeted to specific departments.

  • Disney announced the layoffs this week.

The players

Josh D'Amaro

The newly-installed CEO of Disney who announced the layoffs in a companywide memo.

Sony Pictures Entertainment

A rival entertainment company that also recently announced strategic layoffs across its TV, film, and corporate offices.

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What they’re saying

“Over the past several months, we have looked at ways in which we can streamline our operations in various parts of the company to ensure we deliver the world-class creativity and innovation our fans value and expect from Disney.”

— Josh D'Amaro, CEO, Disney

“Given the fast-moving pace of our industries, this requires us to constantly assess how to foster a more agile and technologically-enabled workforce to meet tomorrow's needs.”

— Josh D'Amaro, CEO, Disney

What’s next

Disney has not provided specifics on which divisions or job functions will be impacted by the layoffs, but has promised to help affected employees with 'resources, guidance, and direct support' during the transition.

The takeaway

Disney's mass layoffs are the latest sign of the major contraction happening across the entertainment industry, as companies like Disney and Sony grapple with declining theater attendance, a shifting media landscape, and the need to adapt their workforce to be more technologically-enabled. These cuts highlight the challenges facing Hollywood as it navigates an uncertain future.