Oracle's Layoffs Expose the 'Bullshit Jobs' Problem

As the tech giant cuts 20% of its workforce, the debate over AI, productivity, and the future of work intensifies.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 7:40am by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A minimalist, high-contrast studio still life featuring a sleek laptop, a stylized calculator, and geometric shapes made of polished metal and glass, conceptually representing the abstract impact of technology on corporate strategy and the modern workforce.As AI and automation reshape the modern workplace, the debate over the social impact of mass layoffs and the elimination of 'bullshit jobs' intensifies.San Francisco Today

Oracle's recent decision to lay off around 30,000 employees, or 20% of its global workforce, has sparked a wider conversation about the prevalence of 'bullshit jobs' in large corporate organizations and the role of AI in automating non-essential work. The article argues that Oracle's move is an attempt to eliminate make-work and focus the remaining workforce on what truly matters, a strategy that other CEOs may emulate as AI adoption increases. However, the social implications of these mass layoffs, especially in a tightening labor market, raise questions about corporate responsibility and the need for a more equitable approach to adopting new technologies.

Why it matters

Oracle's layoffs highlight the longstanding issue of 'bullshit jobs' in the modern service economy, where productivity gains from technological advancements have often been offset by the creation of unnecessary make-work. As AI becomes more prevalent, companies will be forced to confront this problem, leading to more drastic workforce reductions. This raises concerns about the impact on displaced workers and the need for a more thoughtful, equitable approach to adopting new technologies.

The details

According to the article, Oracle's decision to lay off around 30,000 employees, or 20% of its global workforce, is an attempt by the company to eliminate make-work and focus the remaining workforce on what truly matters. The author argues that large organizations often create unnecessary 'bullshit jobs' as a form of career preservation, where employees fill their time with pointless tasks and paperwork to appear busy and avoid risk. With the introduction of AI, these make-work activities can be automated, leaving companies with the opportunity to streamline their workforce. The article draws a parallel between Oracle's approach and Elon Musk's drastic restructuring of Twitter, both of which aim to compress the workforce and force employees to focus on essential work.

  • Oracle announced the layoffs in April 2026.

The players

Larry Ellison

The co-founder and chairman of Oracle, who has decided to eliminate make-work and focus the company's workforce on what truly matters.

Elon Musk

The CEO of Twitter, who took a similar approach to workforce compression when he took over the company in 2022.

David Graeber

The author of the book 'Bullshit Jobs: a Theory', which described the prevalence of make-work in large organizations and hit a nerve with many people.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If you've worked in a big corporate and you're honest about it, you'll have seen it. Sometimes it's totally pointless (and obvious): 'Turn this spreadsheet into a deck' – something which nobody then reads.”

— Charles Radclyffe, Founder of a startup tech company

“When Elon Musk walked into Twitter with the sink and then took a sledgehammer to the org chart, it was treated as theater. But beneath this was a bet: if you compress the workforce hard enough, the people who remain will stop doing the non-essential work, because they simply don't have time for it.”

— Charles Radclyffe, Founder of a startup tech company

What’s next

As more companies adopt AI and seek to eliminate make-work, the debate over the social implications of mass layoffs will intensify. Policymakers and business leaders will need to address the challenges faced by displaced workers and explore alternative approaches, such as the four-day workweek, that can balance productivity gains with more equitable distribution of work.

The takeaway

Oracle's layoffs highlight the longstanding issue of 'bullshit jobs' in large organizations, where productivity gains from technology have often been offset by the creation of unnecessary make-work. As AI becomes more prevalent, companies will be forced to confront this problem, leading to more drastic workforce reductions. This raises concerns about the impact on displaced workers and the need for a more thoughtful, equitable approach to adopting new technologies.