Unilever to Slash A Third Of Its European Workforce

Unilever plans to cut a third of its office-based roles in Europe by the end of 2025, the consumer goods giant announced, as reported by Faarea Masud for BBC News.

Approximately 3,200 Unilever jobs will be axed in the region. I Photo: Unilever

This move follows an announcement in March regarding cost-cutting measures that will affect about 7,500 roles globally.

The firm stated it would begin a consultation process with those affected by the cuts in Europe, with approximately 3,200 jobs being axed in the region. "We recognize the significant anxiety that these proposals are causing among our people," Unilever said.

The changes are part of efforts to revive growth at the firm under CEO Hein Schumacher, who took over last year following years of underperformance.

Unilever has major offices in London and Rotterdam, where the company maintained dual headquarters for decades before unifying its legal structure in the UK in 2020. At that time, it claimed the change would not affect staffing.

“These measures mean the biggest job cuts in Unilever for decades," Hermann Soggeberg, head of Unilever’s European Works Council, said in a letter to staff.

A Unilever spokesperson added: “In March, we announced the launch of a comprehensive productivity program to drive focus and growth through a leaner and more accountable organization."