Lyft, Uber layoffs: Pandemic forced 17% workforce cuts in 2020

On May 1, 2025 — five years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the ride-sharing industry into survival mode — the massive layoffs at Lyft and Uber remain a defining moment for the gig economy. In April 2020, both companies announced sweeping workforce reductions as lockdowns and social distancing measures crushed demand for ride-hailing services.

Lyft’s 17% workforce cut: A 982-employee blow

When the pandemic