# Canva cuts or relocates 1,200 jobs in major restructure

> Canva is cutting or relocating more than 1,200 jobs, or 22% of its global workforce. Departing employees will get six months' salary and can apply for US$10,000 startup grants.

- Type: AI news
- Page: https://completeaitraining.com/news/canva-cuts-or-relocates-1200-jobs-in-major-restructure/
- Published: 2026-11-05
- Updated: 2026-11-04
- Author: Jeroen Erne
- Jobs: Creatives, Executives and strategy, Finance, Human resources, Legal, Management, Marketing, PR and communications, Writers
- Reading time: 2 min

Canva is cutting or relocating more than 1,200 jobs, representing 22% of its global workforce, as the Australian design platform undertakes a major restructure. The move affects 1,271 people and adds Canva to a growing list of established software companies reshaping their operations amid competitive pressure from artificial intelligence disrupters.

Chief executive Melanie Perkins described the decision as "without doubt the hardest moment in our thirteen-year history" in an email to staff on Wednesday. The restructure will see some employees moved to centralized hubs while others leave the company entirely.

#### What the restructure includes

Perkins said the changes focus on "collapsing layers" and bringing "more teams together in person." She did not specify the exact number of job losses versus relocations, but acknowledged the impact on staff. "For some people, this will mean changes to their roles or being asked to relocate to centralised hubs," she said. "Sadly, it will also mean saying goodbye to teammates and friends who have helped build Canva into what it is today."

Departing employees will receive at least six months of salary and retain healthcare coverage for 12 months in countries where that benefit applies. They can keep their laptops and apply for US$10,000 (A$14,000) grants to start their own ventures.

#### Technology sector under pressure

The cuts mirror broader upheaval across the technology sector, where software companies are fighting to stay competitive against cheaper AI-powered alternatives while racing to embed AI tools into their own products. Atlassian recently cut 1,600 roles, while Block and WiseTech Global have also reduced headcount.

Some industry observers have warned of a "SaaS-pocalypse" - the idea that AI advances far enough to make specialized software redundant. While established companies have publicly rejected that framing, many have overhauled business models or adopted AI tools aggressively. Unlike its peers, Canva did not mention AI in its restructure announcement.

#### Why this matters for executives and strategy professionals

Canva's restructure signals that even high-growth private companies with strong brand recognition are not insulated from the cost pressures reshaping the software industry. For executives and finance leaders, the severance package - six months' pay, extended healthcare, equipment retention, and startup grants - sets a benchmark for handling workforce reductions in a talent-competitive market. HR and legal teams should note the relocation component: requiring staff to move to centralized hubs introduces legal and logistical complexity that demands careful communication and support frameworks. Marketing and communications professionals can study Perkins's direct, empathetic tone as a case study in delivering difficult news without corporate hedging.

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