US-based chipmaker Qualcomm has started laying off employees in India as part of a global workforce reduction, with around 1,000 jobs potentially at risk. The first round of layoffs reportedly began at its Bengaluru office on November 9. Employees across different experience levels, including senior engineers and those who have worked with the company for several years, are among those affected.
The job cuts are expected to extend to Qualcomm's offices in Hyderabad, Delhi NCR and Chennai. Although the company has not officially confirmed the number of employees who will lose their jobs in India, industry estimates suggest that the impact could be significant. The move comes at a time when Qualcomm is facing challenges in its smartphone chip business and looking to expand into other technology markets.
Key Highlights
- Qualcomm Begins India Layoffs as Around 1,000 Jobs Face Potential Cuts
- Qualcomm Job Cuts Begin in Bengaluru Amid Global Workforce Reduction
- Qualcomm Plans Workforce Reduction as Smartphone Chip Revenue Declines
Around 1,000 jobs could be affected in India
According to reports, Qualcomm is planning to reduce around 7% of its global workforce, which had approximately 52,000 employees as of September 2025. India is home to nearly 20,000 Qualcomm employees, making it one of the company's biggest engineering and research centres outside the United States.
Based on these figures, Pareekh Jain, CEO and lead analyst at EIIRTrend, estimated that around 1,000 or more employees in India could be affected. However, a separate report by Investing.com, citing people familiar with the matter, suggested that the actual number of Qualcomm layoffs in India could be lower. Qualcomm has not confirmed either estimate.
The layoffs follow an internal communication from CEO Cristiano Amon in October. In the memo, Amon explained that the company would reduce its workforce following its annual performance reviews. He said the decisions would be based on business requirements, organisational priorities and the skills needed for future growth.
Some employees affected by the layoffs have reportedly said they had not received any negative performance feedback before being informed about their exit. The company has not yet shared a detailed breakdown of the job cuts in India across its offices.
Employees offered severance packages
Employees affected by the layoffs have reportedly been offered a severance package equivalent to three months' salary, along with additional payments based on their years of service. Reports also suggest that employees who complete and sign their exit documents within three days could receive an additional month's salary.
These details have emerged through media reports and employee accounts. Qualcomm has not officially confirmed the severance terms, and the final compensation may vary depending on individual employment agreements.
The layoffs come as Qualcomm faces pressure in its traditional smartphone business. The company reported an 8% year-on-year decline in revenue to $10.32 billion in its fiscal fourth quarter. Revenue from handset chip revenue fell 26% to $5.14 billion, while its automotive chip business recorded an 89% increase to $1.99 billion.
Rising memory prices and weaker demand for consumer electronics have added to the challenges facing the smartphone industry. As a result, Qualcomm is looking to reduce its dependence on the handset market by expanding into areas such as artificial intelligence, data centres and automotive technology.
The company expects revenue from businesses outside smartphones to grow by more than 60% in fiscal 2027. It has also maintained its target of generating $5 billion in revenue from the data centre business.
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While Qualcomm continues to invest in these emerging areas, the latest layoffs reflect the changes taking place within its business. The company has yet to confirm the total number of employees who will be affected by the Qualcomm workforce reduction in India.
