CHICAGO — Two major online job platforms — CareerBuilder and Monster — are shuttering their shared U.S. headquarters in Chicago’s Loop, signaling another shake-up in the digital hiring space.
The announcement was made Thursday in a letter to employees, which confirmed that the 200 N. LaSalle Street office will close and some employees will be laid off in the process.
Layoffs and Office Closure in the Loop
The letter, signed by CareerBuilder + Monster CEO Jeff Furman, informed employees that the Loop-based headquarters will be closing later this year, though the exact date remains unclear.
According to the letter and a post by Job Board Doctor on LinkedIn:
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Some employees have already been terminated, with their last day expected to be August 4.
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The total number of layoffs has not been disclosed.
A spokesperson for the company said that operations will continue “as normal” during an ongoing sale process.
Merger, WARN Notices, and Potential Sale
CareerBuilder, a longtime Chicago-based job portal, merged with Massachusetts-based Monster in September 2024. The closure and layoffs are taking place amid what appears to be preparation for a potential sale of the merged company.
“To provide us with flexibility during the ongoing sale process and ensure we are meeting any obligations under U.S. federal and state law with regards to potential headcount reductions, we are providing WARN notices to the majority of U.S.-based employees,” said the company’s spokesperson.
Under the federal WARN Act, companies with 75 or more full-time employees must give 60 days’ notice before plant closures or mass layoffs — or alternatively, provide 60 days of pay. As of Saturday afternoon, Illinois’ WARN notice database did not show the layoffs related to CareerBuilder + Monster.
What It Means for the Job Market
The closure of the Chicago office and accompanying layoffs raise questions about the future direction of one of the oldest digital job platforms. Both companies have faced rising competition from newer platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter.
While the merged entity has attempted to stay relevant in an evolving recruitment tech landscape, the decision to close the headquarters and prepare for a sale suggests potential strategic or financial pressure.
The spokesperson reassured that despite the layoffs, “operations will continue as normal” during this transitional period.
If you’ve been affected by this closure or layoff, or have thoughts on the impact of tech mergers on Chicago’s economy, we’d like to hear from you. Drop a comment below on chicagosuburbanfamily.com.
