Finance
Top Ikea Retailer to Cut 800 Office Jobs
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 19, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 19, 2026
Quick Summary
Ingka Group, owner of most IKEA stores globally, plans to cut approximately 800 office‑based roles—mainly in Sweden and its Netherlands HQ—as part of a streamlined structure to boost efficiency and sharpen focus on its core retail business.
Top IKEA retailer to cut 800 office jobs
By Greta Rosen Fondahn
IKEA's Workforce Restructuring and Market Strategy
STOCKHOLM, March 19 (Reuters) - The owner of most IKEA outlets worldwide said on Thursday it would cut some of its office-based workforce, with 800 roles likely affected, in an effort to streamline the organisation.
Leadership's Vision for a Leaner Organization
Ingka CEO Juvencio Maeztu, who took the helm in November, said a slimmer organisation at the top would enable faster decision-making, with more "responsibility to the front line".
Cost Reduction and Customer Benefits
It would also lower Ingka's costs, helping the retailer to grow and to bring prices down for customers, he said.
Sales Performance and Market Share Focus
IKEA sales have fallen for the past two years, which the retailer has attributed to its focus on cutting prices to try to increase market share and lift sales volume.
Industry Trends and Competitive Landscape
Need for Speed and Agility
"The world we live in, both in the world and in the retail industry, requires more speed and more agility than ever before. So we need to reduce the complexity," Maeztu said.
"We are giving more focus to the front line. And by doing that, you can really take the right decisions and faster decisions."
Details of Job Cuts
Ingka said the cuts would impact office-based jobs across the group, mainly in Sweden and at the headquarters in the Netherlands, but did not specify what exact roles would be removed.
Comparison with Other Retailers
IKEA joins other retailers in cutting jobs this year as weak economic growth dents consumer spending. Nike cut 775 jobs in the U.S. while Home Depot in January announced 800 job cuts.
Ingka Group Structure and Global Operations
Business Areas and Employment
Ingka employs around 166,000 people across the world. It is split into three business areas, IKEA Retail, shopping malls business Ingka Centres, and investment arm Ingka Investments.
Adapting to Geopolitical and Market Challenges
Asked about current geopolitical turmoil and the rise in oil prices, Maeztu said they did not affect Ingka in the short term, but they were a "reminder" of why IKEA needs to be "agile to overcome disruption".
Regional Job Cuts
IKEA Sweden - Ingka's retail arm in Sweden - separately said on Wednesday it was also cutting jobs, which could impact 145 additional roles. In February, IKEA Norway said it would cut 50-60 roles in its head office.
Shift in Store Strategy
IKEA, best known for blue out-of-town warehouse stores, is shifting focus to more city and suburban stores and Ingka said it plans 20 such openings by September.
(Reporting by Greta Rosen Fondahn, additional reporting by Helen Reid. Editing by Mark Potter)
Key Takeaways
- •About 800 office roles could be made redundant under the new simplified Group Functions structure, affecting mainly Sweden and Netherlands offices (“Group Functions”)
- •Ingka Group comprises three business arms—IKEA Retail, Ingka Centres (shopping malls), and Ingka Investments—allowing the retailer to strengthen its omnichannel core operations
- •Despite recent sales declines, the restructuring aims to lower costs, speed up decision‑making by empowering front‑line operations, and support further expansion including new faster‑to‑open store formats (potentially adding 500 roles)
Frequently Asked Questions about Top IKEA retailer to cut 800 office jobs
1How many IKEA office jobs are being cut?
Ingka Group, the owner of most IKEA stores globally, is cutting around 800 office-based roles as part of a restructuring.
2Where will the majority of IKEA job cuts take place?
Most office job cuts will be in Sweden and at the company's headquarters in the Netherlands.
3What is the reason behind IKEA's job cuts?
IKEA is streamlining its organization and focusing on its core retail business to enable faster decision-making and reduce costs.
4Will IKEA still be hiring after the announced job cuts?
Yes, Ingka Group plans to open new stores and may create up to 500 new roles with a new store format.
5How is IKEA responding to global economic challenges?
The company is restructuring to become more agile, ensuring resilience against geopolitical and market disruptions.
