TikTok, the global video-sharing giant, is scaling back its workforce in Ireland, announcing hundreds of job cuts that have raised concerns about the future of its operations in the region. The layoffs, first reported in early 2024 and continuing into 2025, are part of a broader restructuring effort targeting the company’s training and quality teams, which are heavily based in Dublin. With nearly 3,000 staff employed at TikTok’s Irish operation, the cuts signal a shift in the company’s global strategy amid economic pressures and regulatory uncertainty.
The job reductions, first detailed by The Irish Times and RTE in 2024, focus on TikTok’s training and quality assurance teams, which handle processes to enhance platform moderation and user experience. The company has emphasized that its trust and safety teams—responsible for content moderation—will remain untouched, but the layoffs still impact a significant portion of its Irish workforce. TikTok has not disclosed the exact number of jobs lost in Ireland, but sources suggest a “significant number” of the global cuts will affect local staff. In a statement to The Irish
Examiner, a TikTok spokesperson said, “Our priority is supporting affected employees through this transition to minimize the impact of the changes. Ireland remains a hugely important base for us, and we’re continuing to hire for roles across our business here.”
The layoffs follow a pattern of job cuts across Big Tech in recent years, with companies like Snap, Microsoft, PayPal, and Google also trimming staff amid subdued demand and economic challenges. TikTok’s move comes as the company grapples with regulatory scrutiny worldwide, particularly in the U.S., where a potential ban looms due to national security concerns over its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. In January 2025, TikTok CEO Shou Chew faced intense questioning from U.S. lawmakers about data privacy and platform safety, adding pressure to the company’s operations.
In Ireland, the layoffs are part of a broader redesign of TikTok’s training and quality teams, aimed at enhancing quality assurance processes through greater use of artificial intelligence (AI) in content moderation. The company laid off hundreds globally in 2024, including staff in Malaysia, as it shifted toward AI-driven solutions. In Dublin, the cuts are not expected to trigger a formal collective redundancy notification—required for layoffs of 30 or more—according to the Irish Department of Enterprise, suggesting the numbers may fall below that threshold. However, TikTok has warned of potential additional job cuts in Ireland, as reported by Personnel Today in 2024, with a restructuring of its small and medium business division already affecting around 20 roles.
Despite the layoffs, TikTok remains committed to Ireland as a key hub, continuing to hire for critical roles in engineering, marketing, and operations. The company’s Dublin office, which employs a workforce skilled in tech and digital innovation, is central to its European operations. However, the job cuts have sparked fears among Irish workers and unions, with some questioning the long-term stability of tech jobs in the region as Big Tech prioritizes cost-cutting and automation.
TikTok’s fate remains uncertain globally, with legal battles over a potential U.S. ban ongoing and European regulators increasing scrutiny of data practices. The layoffs in Ireland are a microcosm of these broader challenges, reflecting the company’s need to streamline operations while navigating a volatile economic and regulatory landscape. As TikTok doubles down on AI and efficiency, the human cost of its growth strategy is becoming increasingly visible in Ireland and beyond.