Canva to cut 1,270 jobs as growth slows for first time in a decade

Canva will cut 1,270 jobs, about 22% of its global staff, as it restructures amid its first slowdown in a decade. CEO Melanie Perkins called the move the hardest moment in the company's 13‑year history and said small changes would not be enough to ready the business for its next phase. The restructure will involve job cuts, role changes and relocation, with Sydney becoming the main hub for product teams and some employees asked to move from Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth. A six‑month salary package, health and wellbeing support and the removal of a one‑year equity vesting cliff for recent hires are offered to those exiting, plus a $10,000 grant for anyone who wants to start a business or community project. From January, most hybrid staff are expected to work in the office two to three days a week, adjusted to local conditions. Perkins said the company needs to “re‑found Canva,” returning to small, empowered teams that can make decisions quickly. Canva, founded by Perkins, Cliff Obrecht and later Cameron Adams in Perth, now operates in 37 countries and serves hundreds of millions of users. The announcement comes as Australia’s tech sector sees wider layoffs, including Atlassian's 1,600‑job cut and Block's workforce reductions. ## Context Canva’s shift reflects broader pressure on tech firms to adapt to new creation tools and to control costs after a period of rapid expansion.