Confirming the job losses, the FTSE 100 company said the reduction in its workforce was down to cost cutting measures.

U.K.-based oil company is cutting 4,700 jobs worldwide and a further 3,000 contractor roles as part of a cost-saving drive.

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BP ( BP) will eliminate 4,700 positions internally, ~5% of its workforce, and more than 3,000 contractor jobs, with more cost-cutting efforts planned for this year and beyond, the CEO said. The job cuts follow reviews of all of BP's ( BP) divisions, although the exact breakdown of the cuts was not disclosed.

BP will cut over 5% of its global workforce as part of a strategy to reduce costs and rebuild investor confidence. CEO Murray Auchincloss aims to simplify operations and boost returns following the resignation of his predecessor.

London-based energy firm BP plan to cut its global workforce by just over five per cent, resulting in 4,700 job losses. The oil giant will also remove 3,000 contractor positions, reports Reuters, having seen an internal memo letting staff know of the upcoming changes.

Employees at the oil-and-gas giant were told of the job cuts Thursday via an email from Chief Executive Murray Auchincloss.