WeWork laying off 2,400 employees to 'create a more efficient organization'

The company is 'grateful' for laid-off employees' important work, a spokesperson said

Shared workspace company WeWork is laying off around 2,400 employees globally, the company confirmed Thursday.

"As part of our renewed focus on the core WeWork business, and as we have previously shared with employees, the company is making necessary layoffs to create a more efficient organization," a WeWork spokesperson said in a statement. "The process began weeks ago in regions around the world and continued this week in the U.S."

SoftBank Group Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son listens to a speech during the SoftBank World 2018 conference on July 19, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

"This workforce reduction affects approximately 2,400 employees globally, who will receive severance, continued benefits, and other forms of assistance to aid in their career transition," the spokesperson continued. "These are incredibly talented professionals and we are grateful for the important roles they have played in building WeWork over the last decade."

News of job cuts at WeWork had been swirling for weeks.

WeWork shelved plans for an initial public offering in late September after investors were put off by the company’s losses and had questions about its corporate governance.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

Co-founder and former chief executive Adam Neumann stepped down in September.

WeWork's largest outside shareholder, Softbank, has announced a plan to bail out the company and reorganize the business.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

FOX Business' Ken Martin contributed to this report.