Topic of the Week – eBay cuts 6% of workforce as it doubles down on resale
eBay is cutting around 800 jobs globally, representing roughly 6% of its workforce, as the company restructures to prioritise growth areas within its marketplace business.
The layoffs are part of a broader effort to streamline operations while reallocating resources toward strategic initiatives. In a statement, the company said it is realigning its organisational structure with long-term priorities, although it will continue hiring in certain areas of the business.
A key focus for eBay is strengthening its consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace, which accounts for roughly 25% of total gross merchandise volume (GMV). CEO Jamie Iannone has highlighted peer-to-peer selling as a major opportunity as more consumers turn to online marketplaces to resell unwanted items.
The company is also leaning heavily into the growing secondhand and refurbished goods market, which continues to gain traction as shoppers look for more affordable and sustainable options. Fashion resale has emerged as a particularly strong category on the platform, generating more than $10 billion in GMV globally last year.
To build out its presence in resale, eBay has been expanding both through acquisitions and partnerships. Earlier this year, the company acquired U.K.-based fashion resale platform Depop for $1.2 billion, strengthening its reach among Gen Z consumers and peer-to-peer sellers. The move followed its purchase of Norwegian resale marketplace Tise last September, extending its footprint in European secondhand markets.
eBay has also sought to elevate its position in pre-owned fashion through partnerships. Last year the company entered a multi-year collaboration with Condé Nast, publisher of titles including Vogue, becoming the publisher’s official “Pre-Loved Partner.” The partnership aims to increase the visibility of secondhand fashion through editorial features, curated collections and joint marketing campaigns.
The restructuring comes despite solid recent financial performance. In the fourth quarter, eBay reported revenue of $3 billion, up 15% year over year, while GMV rose 10% to $21.2 billion. Net income increased 7% to $648 million.
For the full year, revenue reached $11.1 billion, up 8%, while GMV climbed 7% to $79.6 billion. Net income rose 6% to $2.6 billion.
Analysts say the results show improving momentum across the platform heading into 2026. The company’s decision to cut roles while continuing targeted hiring reflects a broader trend across the tech and e-commerce sectors, where companies are trimming costs while investing more heavily in high-growth areas such as resale, recommerce and peer-to-peer marketplaces.
As competition intensifies across online retail, eBay appears to be positioning itself to capture a larger share of the rapidly expanding circular economy, where secondhand goods and consumer reselling are becoming an increasingly important part of the global e-commerce landscape.
eCommerce Market Stats
See some statistics relating to this week’s topics in the eCommerce market below.
Market stats:
- 25% of eBay’s gross merchandise volume (GMV) now comes from consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace sales.
- Around 68% of global consumers say they are open to buying pre-owned or refurbished products.
- Nearly two-thirds (≈66%) of UK shoppers purchased secondhand goods online in the past year.
- Resale markets are growing by roughly 9–10% annually, outpacing many traditional retail categories.
- Fashion resale makes up a significant share of recommerce, with pre-owned apparel expected to continue expanding faster than the wider fashion market.
That’s all for this week…
If you would like to read more industry-related news and insights, check out our articles below, or get in touch to discuss our services!
