Comcast is cutting 634 jobs at its Philadelphia headquarters as part of a companywide restructuring aimed at reducing costs and accelerating investment in artificial intelligence. The layoffs are scheduled to begin Dec. 31, and the company has started notifying affected employees.
The company also reported cuts of 119 jobs in New Jersey, 159 in Washington state and 82 in California. At the same time, Comcast plans to hire for more than 1,100 positions, including more than 500 in Philadelphia, according to notices filed with regulators.
Comcast said the changes are intended to make the company more agile, improve customer service and strengthen its ability to compete. The company employs about 179,000 people worldwide, including 15,000 in the Philadelphia area.
The layoffs have affected workers in roles ranging from engineering and product management to information technology and business analysis. Some employees described a tense atmosphere at the company’s Center City headquarters, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.