Home Depot Cuts 800 Corporate Jobs as Retail Slowdown Pressures Operations

Home Depot (NYSE: HD) has laid off approximately 800 corporate employees, citing the need to streamline operations and move faster amid a prolonged slowdown in home improvement demand.

The job reductions, confirmed by the company on Wednesday, primarily affect corporate and remote roles, with a large portion tied to Home Depot’s technology organization. About 150 of the affected employees were based at the company’s Atlanta headquarters, while the remainder worked remotely across various corporate functions.In a message to employees, Chief Executive Officer Ted Decker said the changes are designed to improve execution and better connect leadership teams with store-level operations.

“To extend our industry-leading position, we must position the company to move faster and stay even more closely connected to our customers and frontline associates,” Decker said. Alongside the layoffs, Home Depot announced that corporate employees will be required to work in the office five days per week, beginning the week of April 6. Decker said the return-to-office mandate is intended to simplify decision-making, strengthen collaboration, and reinforce the company’s culture.

The workforce changes follow a period of weaker-than-expected financial performance for the home improvement retailer. In its most recent quarter, Home Depot reported modest sales growth, but profitability declined as higher costs and cautious consumer spending weighed on results. Operating income and net income both fell year over year, and the company reduced its full-year profit outlook.

Home Depot has struggled to regain the momentum it enjoyed during the pandemic-era housing boom, as elevated mortgage rates, economic uncertainty, and slower housing turnover have made consumers more hesitant to take on large renovation projects. The move also reflects a broader trend across the retail and consumer sectors, where companies are trimming headcount to manage costs amid uneven demand. Several major retailers and consumer brands have announced layoffs in recent weeks as they recalibrate for a more cautious spending environment.

Despite the near-term pressures, Home Depot has said it still expects full-year fiscal 2025 sales to grow modestly, with comparable sales turning slightly positive. The company is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter earnings on February 24, which investors will closely watch for signs that demand is stabilizing.

Shares of Home Depot have underperformed the broader market over the past year (-10% over the past 12 months), though the stock has rebounded modestly so far in 2026.

About Home Depot

Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is the world’s largest home improvement retailer, serving professional contractors and do-it-yourself customers through thousands of stores across North America. The company offers a wide range of building materials, home improvement products, tools, and services, and employs hundreds of thousands of associates across retail, supply chain, and corporate operations.