Disney eyes thousands of layoffs, asks managers to target 20% savings, Bloomberg News reports

The Walt Disney Company is reportedly considering layoffs of thousands of employees, with some managers instructed to identify 20% in annual cost savings, according to Bloomberg News. The potential restructuring comes amidst various challenges for the entertainment giant, including the increasing use of artificial intelligence, declining box office revenue, heightened competition from streaming platforms, and a decline in international attendance at Disney's theme parks.

Certain divisions within Disney are expected to incur a greater portion of the cuts than others, with CEO Josh D'Amaro aiming to reinvest a portion of the savings into film and television programming, technology, theme parks, and cruise ship operations. However, the exact number of jobs that could be affected has not been disclosed by the company.

Disney currently employs around 231,000 people. The company has been engaged in job cuts in recent years as part of broader profitability improvement efforts. Earlier this year, Disney reportedly laid off a few hundred employees from its human resources and technology divisions. Additionally, the company had previously reduced its workforce by about 1,000 positions in April, several hundred employees in 2025, and 7,000 roles in 2023 to save $5.5 billion in costs under former CEO Bob Iger.

Other media and entertainment firms, such as Netflix and Skydance, have also undertaken job cuts in an effort to reduce expenses.