Salesforce has recently submitted a California WARN notice indicating the elimination of 86 positions across several divisions, including sales, technology, and administration. This significant reduction affects teams focused on Agentforce, the company's AI agent platform, along with those involved in MuleSoft and Marketing Cloud.
#What Does the Market Say About Salesforce?
The performance of Salesforce stock clearly illustrates the company's current struggles. Shares have plummeted over 30% year-to-date in 2026, positioning Salesforce as the worst performer within the Dow Jones Industrial Average. This decline is not new. In 2025, the stock already saw a decrease of approximately 20%, signaling a consistent trend. Analysts have coined the term "SaaSpocalypse" to emphasize the challenges faced by companies operating in the traditional software-as-a-service landscape.
#Are Layoffs an Ongoing Trend for Salesforce?
Earlier this year, the company made headlines by reducing its customer support staff from 9,000 to 5,000, indicating a loss of around 4,000 jobs in this division alone. Furthermore, additional layoffs cut nearly 1,000 more positions across other areas. In September 2025, Salesforce also eliminated 262 roles in San Francisco.
#What Rationale Does Salesforce Provide?
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff characterizes these job cuts under the lens of AI-driven productivity. The core argument being presented is that advancements in AI allow the company to maintain a steady engineering workforce while pursuing growth. However, it raises a notable paradox that a team dedicated to creating AI solutions is facing layoffs due to the very technology they are working on. For instance, the Agentforce team was developing autonomous AI agents intended to replace repetitive human tasks, yet they are now exiting the company.