Yahoo! expected to announce job cuts

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. Internet search-engine Yahoo! Inc., refocusing as it faces a tighter budget for 2008, is expected to cut workers in some areas and hire in others.

Technically, the Sunnyvale, Calif., company is not downsizing, as it expects to end the year with roughly the same number of employees overall, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Still, one source familiar with the situation told the Journal hundreds of employees could be affected by the changes.

The company is expected to emphasize a three-pronged approach for 2008 laid out by Chief Executive Officer Jerry Yang in October 2007. Yahoo! is aiming to be the first page Internet consumers see when they log in and, consequently, a "must-buy" advertising venue. It also is striving to be a technology platform that is as easy to use as possible for Web site developers.

The job cuts are expected to be significant, but not announced until the company's fourth-quarter results are made public Jan. 29. Currently, Yahoo!'s workforce numbers 14,000.