Canva Cutting 22% of Staff

Canva plans to eliminate 1,271 jobs, about 22 per cent of its workforce, after growth slowed for the first time in a decade. Chief executive Melanie Perkins described the decision as the most difficult in the company’s 13-year history and said incremental changes would not be enough. The restructuring is intended to “refound” the design platform by restoring smaller, more independent teams focused on priorities and able to make decisions quickly. Some employees will lose their jobs; others will be asked to relocate to centralised hubs.

The company will combine its product, growth and platform teams into one product organisation and remove management layers. Sydney is to become the main base for more product teams, while hybrid employees will need to work from an office two or three days a week starting in January. The cuts come amid wider investor concern that artificial intelligence could weaken software companies: rival Figma’s shares fell by more than half during 2026, and several investors have reduced Canva’s valuation. Departing employees will receive at least six months’ salary and, where applicable, a year of healthcare coverage. They can keep their work MacBooks and apply for grants of up to US$10,000 to launch businesses.