Microsoft powered LinkedIn, has announced that it will shut down its InCareer service, its last remaining offering in China.
The company cited “fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate” as the reason for the closure. LinkedIn was one of the few US tech companies to successfully operate in China’s heavily regulated and censored internet environment.
It created a unique domestic version of its career networking platform to comply with local regulations. The platform had to suspend new sign-ups in China in 2021 due to the “significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements.”
The company’s CEO said the closure would result in a reduction of roles for 716 employees, but the company will continue to have a presence in China by focusing on “assisting companies operating in China to hire, market, and train abroad.”