Job Cuts: Qualcomm Begins Laying Off 1,000 Employees in India – Here’s Why
American technology company Qualcomm has begun laying off employees in India. This move is part of the company’s broader global workforce reduction program. According to reports, approximately 1,000 employees in India could be affected—a figure representing about five to six percent of the company’s total workforce in the country.
The layoffs have commenced at Qualcomm’s Bengaluru office, primarily affecting senior engineers and employees with extensive experience. In the coming days, this restructuring is also expected to impact the company’s engineering and research centers in Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, and Chennai. Affected employees have been offered a severance package equivalent to three months’ salary.
This package also includes additional compensation based on the employee’s tenure with the company. Reports further indicate that employees who sign their exit documentation within three days will receive an additional month’s salary as an incentive. However, Qualcomm has not publicly confirmed these compensation details. The move appears aimed at streamlining the organizational structure and reducing costs.
Why is Qualcomm implementing these layoffs?
On October 20, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon announced a global workforce restructuring. The company is reducing its headcount following its annual performance review process. The objective is to strengthen accountability and align the workforce with shifting business priorities. The layoff of senior engineers in India has also fueled concerns regarding cost-cutting measures, as the company’s revenue faces pressure due to the global smartphone market slowdown.
Which teams have been affected, and how were the selections made? Employees have reported layoffs within the Radio Frequency (RF), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) engineering teams. The selection of employees for these cuts was based on individual performance evaluations, which also incorporated team-level assessments and input from senior management. The perspectives of the US-based company’s business leadership played a significant role in this process. Qualcomm is currently diversifying its operations into artificial intelligence, automotive technology, and data center businesses.
Are other technology companies also implementing layoffs?
The pace of layoffs across global technology companies is accelerating in 2026. More than 80,000 jobs have already been eliminated in the first quarter alone. It is projected that the total number of layoffs for the year could exceed 300,000. Major corporations, including Oracle, Amazon, and Meta, are among those conducting these layoffs. This reflects the significant, large-scale transformations currently underway within the global technology industry.
