The headquarters of Yahoo Inc. is pictured in Sunnyvale, California, May 5, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    LOS ANGELES, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Yahoo is expected to announce more job cuts when it reports third-quarter earnings next week, as Silicon Valley's Internet companies scramble to streamline themselves to face a tough economy, sources said Saturday.

    The Internet portal giant is likely to lay off at least as many employees as it did in January, when it fired 1,000 workers, according to people familiar with the industry. Yahoo currently has about 14,300 employees.

    Leading online auction and shopping website eBay announced earlier this month to lay off 10 percent of its 16,000 workers, while search engine giant Google reportedly has been quietly trimming its contractor workforce.

    Google has a total workforce of around 30,000 people, including some 10,000 contractors, but the company declined to disclose how many contractors it has let go.

    Industry analysts said that the Internet companies, which typically have large overhead and staff numbers, are bracing themselves for a tough economic climate in fears of a global recession.