Qualcomm is initiating a global workforce reduction, with notifications scheduled to begin in November. The decision follows the company's annual performance review process. CEO Cristiano Amon described the move as an efficiency-focused measure aimed at addressing underperforming business units and fostering accountability.
The company has not disclosed the specific number of employees affected by these layoffs. As of September 2025, Qualcomm employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. Management stated that selection criteria for the cuts will prioritize business needs, organizational requirements, and individual employee skills.
The layoffs occur amid challenges in the smartphone chip market, where consumer electronics sales have weakened and rising memory costs have pressured demand. Additionally, Qualcomm previously projected lower-than-expected quarterly profits and warned of a faster-than-anticipated decline in revenue from Apple.
To offset these losses, the company is shifting its focus toward non-smartphone sectors. Qualcomm expects that growth in areas such as data center solutions will help stabilize its financial performance by the 2027 fiscal year.
