E-commerce giant eBay is drawing renewed attention over its workforce strategy after multiple WARN notices revealed plans to lay off 639 U.S. employees in 2026, even as the company filed applications for 429 H-1B visa hires during the same period.
According to data highlighted by workforce tracker Cutoffs.io, eBay submitted filings for 360 H-1B positions during the second quarter of fiscal 2026 and another 69 in the first quarter, totaling 429 prospective foreign-worker hires. At the same time, WARN notices indicate 639 U.S.-based workers are being affected by layoffs this year.
READ: SpaceX buys AI coding startup Cursor for $60 billion days after IPO (June 16, 2026)
The figures have reignited a broader debate over the use of the H-1B visa program by major technology companies, particularly during periods of workforce reductions. Critics argue that firms should prioritize retaining or hiring domestic workers before expanding visa-sponsored recruitment, while supporters of the program contend that H-1B hiring is often aimed at specialized roles where employers face talent shortages.
The latest disclosures come as eBay reports strong business performance. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Iannone said last month that the company delivered first-quarter 2026 results ahead of expectations, citing momentum across its marketplace operations and growing use of artificial intelligence tools.
READ: Indian H-1B worker sues Texas employer, alleging $100K payment to keep his job (June 15, 2026)
The company has previously undertaken major workforce reductions. In early 2024, eBay announced plans to eliminate roughly 1,000 jobs, or about 9% of its workforce, as part of efforts to streamline operations and align expenses with growth.
Neither the WARN filings nor the H-1B applications necessarily indicate that the positions overlap in location, timing, or job function. However, the simultaneous presence of layoffs and visa hiring has become an increasingly scrutinized issue across the technology sector as companies balance cost-cutting measures with ongoing recruitment for specialized talent.