YouTube Announces ‘Voluntary Exit Program’ for U.S. Employees

YouTube has launched a “voluntary exit program” offering severance packages to its U.S.-based employees, the company confirmed to TechAmerica on Wednesday. Sources first reported the move.

In an internal memo shared the same day, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan informed staff about the program and outlined a major organisational restructuring within the Google-owned platform’s product teams.

Three New Product Divisions Under Direct CEO Oversight

As part of the changes, YouTube’s product organisation is being split into three separate divisions, all of which report directly to Mohan.

• Subscription Products — This team will oversee YouTube’s paid offerings, including YouTube Music, YouTube Premium, and OTT services.
• Viewer Products — This division will focus on the overall viewer experience across the main YouTube app, YouTube Kids, Learning, Trust & Safety, and other user-facing features.
• Creator & Community Products — This group will be responsible for supporting creators, enhancing engagement tools, and strengthening YouTube’s global creator community.

YouTube emphasised that no roles are being eliminated as part of this reorganisation.

Context: Alphabet’s Strong Q3 Earnings

The announcement coincides with parent company Alphabet’s third-quarter earnings release, which reported that YouTube’s advertising revenue reached $10.26 billion, marking a 15% year-over-year increase.

This figure highlights YouTube’s continued strength in the digital advertising market despite wider tech industry layoffs and restructuring trends in 2025.

While YouTube’s reorganisation appears focused on operational efficiency and product alignment, the voluntary exit program suggests that the company is also preparing for a leaner structure ahead of potential strategic changes in 2026.