Qualcomm’s India job cut part of global restructuring:Employment of 1,000 employees at risk

US semiconductor major Qualcomm has started laying off employees in India as part of an ongoing global restructuring exercise. The job cuts began at the company’s Bengaluru facility and may impact around 1,000 positions across its Indian operations, according to media reports citing source-based information. Job Cuts Begin in Bengaluru The first phase of layoffs started at Qualcomm’s Bengaluru research and development center. The reduction drive is expected to expand in phases to other major centers, including Hyderabad, Chennai, and Delhi-NCR. The layoffs affect both senior engineers with extensive experience and recently hired staff. Industry analysts expect another round of job cuts to take place in January 2027. How many people are employed at Qualcomm? Severance Package Offered to Employees Impacted employees in India are receiving a severance package based on their salary and duration of service. Base Severance: 3 months of basic pay. Tenure Component: Additional payout linked to the total number of years served at the company. Early Signing Bonus: 1 additional month of salary for employees who submit exit documentation within 3 days. Reason for Restructuring Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon informed employees about the workforce reduction in an internal memo in October, calling it a performance-focused restructuring. The main driver behind the global cost-cutting is sluggish demand in the global smartphone market, which accounts for a large portion of Qualcomm’s processor sales. To counter this, Qualcomm is reallocating capital and shifting focus toward artificial intelligence (AI) data-center chips and automotive technology. Qualcomm’s Financials Despite current headwinds in mobile chips, Qualcomm expects growth from its non-smartphone divisions—specifically AI data centers and automotive chips—to form the majority of its sales by fiscal year 2027. What Happens Next? Further Operations: Layoff notices are expected to extend across other Indian units in Hyderabad and Chennai. US Filings: Qualcomm is also expected to submit official WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notices in California for US-based reductions. Second Phase: Market analysts project an additional phase of workforce rationalization in January 2027.