Canva job cuts affect 1,271 roles in first redundancy round

Perkins said Canva’s growth had slowed this year for the first time in a decade, and that she had concluded “small changes won’t be enough”.

Canva will merge its product, growth and platform teams into a single product organisation and cut management layers. Sydney will become the main base for more product teams. Hybrid staff will be expected in the office two to three days a week from January.

“We’re simplifying layers, consolidating overlapping responsibilities, and ensuring teams have the right mix of skills and experience for the chapter ahead,” Perkins wrote.

The overhaul follows a difficult year for the company’s valuation. Blackbird, Canva’s largest venture backer, cut its valuation of the company by 17 per cent to US$34.9 billion in August 2026. Investors have been concerned that artificial intelligence will undercut software businesses.

Departing employees will receive at least six months’ salary and 12 months of healthcare where Canva provides it, and can keep their work laptops, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.