Canva cuts 22% of staff as it overhauls operations

Co‑founder and CEO Melanie Perkins said Canva is undertaking a sweeping reorganization that will impact 1,271 workers—about 22 % of its worldwide workforce.

She explained that the plan includes a combination of role reshuffles and the potential relocation of some staff to central office hubs. “For certain individuals, this will translate into role changes or a request to move to a centralized hub,” Perkins told employees, noting that the steps are meant to bring the firm in line with its shifting business priorities.

Since its 2012 debut, the Australian‑originated design platform has surged from a modest startup to a multi‑billion‑dollar company operating in dozens of nations. Recent financing rounds have valued it at over $40 billion, ranking it among the globe’s most valuable private technology firms.

Analysts say the cuts mirror a wider trend in tech, as firms that grew rapidly during the pandemic now tighten spending in response to subdued consumer demand and constrained capital markets. Canva’s move seems intended to slash expenses while safeguarding its flagship product and long‑term growth path.

Employee responses have varied: some staff voice disappointment and doubt about their future positions, whereas others see the action as essential for the company's durability. Commentators point out that reshaping the workforce may also indicate a strategic shift toward greater centralized collaboration and a reevaluation of the remote‑work arrangements that became common during the pandemic.

Going forward, Canva intends to keep funding product development and broaden its array of design tools, albeit with a slimmer operational framework. The firm has committed to aiding displaced employees with transition support and will track how the restructuring influences its market standing as rivalry in the online design arena heats up.