Type
Internal restructuring
Country
World
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Sweden, UK + 28 countries
Sector
Retail
Retail Trade, Except Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles
Retail Sale Of Other Household Equipment In Specialised Stores
47.59 - Retail sale of furniture, lighting equipment and other household articles in specialised stores

7,500 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
11,500 jobs
Number of planned job creations
Job creation
Announcement Date
21 November 2018
Employment effect (start)
23 November 2018
Foreseen end date
1 January 2020

Description

Swedish furniture giant retailer Ikea has announced 7,500 job cuts around the world as Ikea has to adapt to rapidly changing consumer trends. According to Ikea's parent company Ingka, the job cuts represent about 5% of its 160,000 workforce and will mainly affect its offices and 'global operations' across 30 countries. 

Ikea, via Ingka, will simultaneously recruit 11,500 people within two years to respond to digital opportunities and the opening of outlets in city centres. Finally, the reorganisation could lead to a net job creation of 4,000 positions. This strategy responds to a change of lifestyle observed as 'fewer people' have a car and 'more and more people are moving into smaller homespaces', according Ingka's CEO. The group has already announced this year 700 job cuts at EU level. In November 2018, national level announcement have been made in Sweden (650 job cuts), in the UK (350 job cuts), and in Belgium (100 jobs).


Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2018), Ikea, Internal restructuring in World, factsheet number 95929, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/95929.