Disney Eyes Thousands of Job Cuts Amid Cost-Cutting Drive: Managers Given 20% Savings Target
The Walt Disney Company is reportedly preparing to eliminate thousands of jobs as the entertainment giant intensifies its cost-cutting drive, with some managers asked to identify opportunities to achieve 20% in annual cost savings.
Potential savings could come from eliminating positions and reducing other operating expenses across the company, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 2, 2026. The report cited people familiar with the discussions who requested anonymity because the proposals are confidential.
The reported 20% target applies to annual cost savings, not a planned 20% reduction in Disney’s workforce. The exact number of jobs that could be affected remains unknown.
Disney Aims to Invest in Growth Areas
The potential job cuts come as Disney Chief Executive Officer Josh D’Amaro looks to improve profitability while continuing to invest in its entertainment and experiences businesses.
Some operations could face disproportionately large reductions, including parts of Disney’s theme parks, television networks and movie studio operations, Bloomberg reported.
The company reportedly aims to reinvest some of the savings in film and television programming, technology, theme parks and cruise ships.
Disney has pledged to achieve double-digit growth in adjusted earnings per share during its current fiscal year. Reducing expenses while investing in areas expected to support future growth is therefore a key part of its broader business strategy.
Disney Has Already Cut Thousands of Jobs
The latest report follows several rounds of workforce reductions at Disney in recent years.
The company eliminated about 7,000 positions in 2023 as part of a cost-saving program aimed at reducing expenses by $5.5 billion. The cuts affected multiple divisions under former CEO Bob Iger.
Disney has continued restructuring its workforce since then. According to Reuters, the company eliminated approximately 1,000 positions in April 2026 and cut several hundred additional roles in 2025.
In September 2026, Disney also laid off a few hundred employees across its human resources and technology divisions, Reuters reported.
The latest developments suggest that reducing expenses remains a priority as the company seeks to strengthen its entertainment and other businesses.
Disney employed about 231,000 people worldwide at the end of fiscal 2025, Reuters reported.
Entertainment Industry Faces Growing Pressure
Disney’s reported restructuring comes as the entertainment industry faces mounting pressure.
Traditional television businesses are experiencing declining audiences and advertising challenges as viewers increasingly turn to streaming platforms, social media and online video services.
Streaming companies also face intense competition, making profitability and spending discipline increasingly important.
Disney must balance these pressures with the costs of producing films and television programs, maintaining streaming services and developing theme park attractions.
The company is also competing for audiences as entertainment consumption habits continue to evolve.
At the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles in October, Disney President Dana Walden said the company needed to evaluate its organizational structure and size to remain competitive continually.
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