Qualcomm is initiating a global workforce reduction to improve operational efficiency. According to a memo from CEO Cristiano Amon, employees will begin receiving layoff notices in November. The decision follows an annual performance review, with the company aiming to strengthen its performance-driven culture and address underperforming business units.
As of September 2025, Qualcomm employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The company stated that selection criteria for layoffs will include business priorities, departmental needs, and individual employee skills. Qualcomm has not provided a specific figure regarding the total number of staff affected by this round of cuts.
The layoffs occur amid a decline in consumer electronics sales, exacerbated by rising memory prices that have impacted smartphone demand. In July, Qualcomm announced a price increase for its chips effective September 1, citing higher component costs and the need to boost profitability.
To offset declining revenue from its partnership with Apple, Qualcomm is diversifying into data center hardware for artificial intelligence. The company projects that by the 2027 fiscal year, the majority of its chip sales will come from non-smartphone sectors. Qualcomm previously cut 226 jobs in San Diego in September 2024 and approximately 1,250 positions a year earlier.
