Salesforce, under the leadership of CEO Marc Benioff, has announced it will not be hiring additional software engineers in 2025. This strategic move is a direct result of significant productivity improvements from artificial intelligence, notably through its core AI platform, Agentforce.
Benioff shared these insights during a podcast conversation on 20VC with Harry Stebbings, revealing that Salesforce has seen a 30% increase in engineering productivity. The use of AI technology has vastly accelerated the company's engineering capabilities, prompting Benioff to state that Agentforce is now the "only thing that really matters" for Salesforce's future trajectory.
While software engineering hires will pause, the company plans to focus on expanding its sales team. With an increased demand to showcase the capabilities of AI, Salesforce aims to hire an additional 1,000 to 2,000 salespeople in the near future.
Benioff's statements highlight a deeper shift within Salesforce, as AI tools like Agentforce are expected to reduce the need for support engineers. In turn, Salesforce will rely more on automated solutions to streamline operations.
This hiring freeze and focus on AI come after a series of workforce reductions in recent years. In 2023, Salesforce laid off 7,000 employees and made similar cuts in 2024. These moves were attributed to the company’s over-expansion during the pandemic, driven by increased demand for remote-working solutions.
As 2025 approaches, Salesforce’s reliance on AI and automation appears set to continue reshaping its workforce, raising questions about further job cuts and the long-term impact on the company’s employees.
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