Canva Cuts 22 Percent of Workforce in Major Restructuring

OPA WIRE, Nov 3 (OPA) — Design software giant Canva is eliminating 1,271 positions, affecting 22 percent of its global workforce, in a major restructuring announced by co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins. The sweeping organizational changes will also require some remaining employees to relocate or transition into new roles as the company attempts to flatten its operational structure.

Perkins outlined the strategy in a memo to staff, stating that small adjustments would no longer suffice for future growth. "To set ourselves up for the next decade, we need to refound Canva, getting back to our roots of small, empowered teams with the freedom to make decisions, take ownership and focus on what matters most for our community," Perkins wrote. The restructuring includes consolidating the Product, Growth, and Platform teams into a single unified product organization to eliminate overlapping responsibilities.

As part of the operational shift, Canva designated Sydney as the primary home for a larger share of its product teams and specialized roles. The company also announced a stricter in-office mandate starting in January, requiring hybrid employees to work from physical offices two to three days per week based on regional operational needs.

Departing employees will receive severance packages including at least six months of salary, twelve months of healthcare coverage, and dedicated career transition support. The announcement arrives amidst a broader wave of workforce reductions across the tech sector, following Squarespace's disclosure of a 19 percent staff reduction.