NEW DELHI, Nov. 11 -- US semiconductor giant Qualcomm has begun laying off employees in India as part of a global workforce restructuring, with reports suggesting that around 1,000 positions could be affected. The job cuts, which reportedly began in Bengaluru on November 9, follow an internal communication from chief executive Cristiano Amon announcing performance-focused reductions across the company's international operations. The layoffs are expected to affect employees across Qualcomm's Indian offices in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Delhi-NCR. However, the company has not officially disclosed the number of positions being eliminated or provided a country-wise breakdown of the restructuring.
According to industry estimates, Qualcomm could reduce its global workforce by approximately 7 per cent, potentially affecting around 3,600 employees. The company has roughly 20,000 employees in India, making the country one of its major engineering and research hubs. While some reports have suggested that nearly 1,000 Indian employees could lose their jobs, others have indicated that the actual number may be considerably lower. Qualcomm has declined to comment on the latest developments. The initial round of layoffs has reportedly affected senior engineers and experienced professionals, although some recently recruited employees have also received termination notices. Another round of workforce reductions could take place in January 2027, according to reports. Details of the severance packages being offered to affected employees have also emerged through social media posts, particularly on Reddit, where individuals claiming to be Qualcomm employees have described their experiences. One user claimed to have received a severance offer comprising three months' salary, along with an additional month's pay for every completed year of service. The employee also alleged that the company offered an extra month's salary if the separation documents were signed within two to three days.
The individual said they were informed about the termination during a one-on-one meeting with their manager on November 9. According to the post, the manager attributed the decision to business requirements rather than individual performance. Another senior employee reportedly suggested that the restructuring was linked to cost-cutting measures and changes in organisational priorities. The affected worker claimed that their relatively shorter experience compared with colleagues in similar positions had influenced the decision. However, these accounts remain unverified, and Qualcomm has not publicly confirmed the severance terms described by employees online. Other accounts have suggested that separation benefits could include notice-period compensation, payments linked to years of service, vested restricted stock units, health insurance coverage, leave encashment and applicable gratuity benefits. The precise package may vary depending on employment contracts, tenure and individual circumstances.
The layoffs follow an October 19 memorandum from Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, who informed employees that the company would undertake a global workforce reduction following its annual performance reviews. Amon said the exercise was intended to strengthen the company's performance culture and ensure that employees' skills and expertise were aligned with its evolving business priorities. The company indicated that employee notifications would begin in November, although the memorandum did not specify how many positions would be eliminated. The restructuring comes as Qualcomm faces challenges in its core smartphone processor business, with weakening handset demand and rising component costs putting pressure on revenue.
In its latest quarterly financial results, the company reported a sharp decline in revenue from handset chips, reflecting difficulties in the global smartphone market. Qualcomm has also warned that revenue from Apple-related products could decline faster than previously anticipated, adding to concerns about the company's dependence on major smartphone manufacturers. At the same time, the semiconductor manufacturer is expanding its presence in artificial intelligence, data centres, automotive technology and connected devices as it seeks to diversify beyond its traditional smartphone business. The company expects these emerging businesses to become increasingly important contributors to revenue over the coming years.
The workforce reductions are not confined to India. Qualcomm has also begun implementing layoffs in the United States, with employees in California among those affected. Reports indicate that the company is expected to file notices under California's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires qualifying employers to provide advance notification of certain large-scale layoffs. The latest restructuring adds Qualcomm to a growing list of global technology companies reducing their workforces while redirecting investment towards artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
For employees in India, uncertainty remains over the final scale of the layoffs, the departments likely to be affected and the compensation available to those leaving the company. With Qualcomm yet to announce official figures or detailed severance arrangements, the full impact of the restructuring on its Indian operations remains unclear.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.