Qualcomm Begins Global Job Cuts as ‘Performance-Focused’ Layoffs Hit India and California
Qualcomm has begun global workforce reductions, with employees in India receiving layoff notices and further cuts expected in California. The restructuring follows an October memo in which CEO Cristiano Amon described the planned cuts as “performance-focused.”
According to Investing.com, California layoff notices under the state’s WARN Act are expected in the coming days. While Financial Express reported that 1,000 or more Indian jobs could be at risk, sources cited by Investing.com said the actual number is expected to be significantly lower. The total number of affected employees remains unconfirmed.
Qualcomm Layoffs Begin in India as California Notices Loom
The first reported layoffs began at Qualcomm’s Bengaluru facility on Nov. 9, with further cuts expected across its operations in Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR and Chennai, according to Financial Express.
The report cited an estimate from EIIRTrend CEO Pareekh Jain that around 1,000 or more Indian employees could be affected, based on an estimated 7% workforce reduction. However, the numbers cannot be independently verified.
In California, Qualcomm is expected to file layoff notices, although the number of affected employees remains unknown. The company’s latest annual filing showed approximately 57,000 employees across more than 200 locations in 38 countries as of Sept. 27, 2026.
Cristiano Amon Describes Cuts as ‘Performance-Focused’
Reuters reported on Oct. 20 that the cuts would follow annual employee reviews, with notifications expected to begin in November.
Cristiano Amon said the company would assess business priorities, organizational needs and employees’ skills when deciding which roles to eliminate. He wrote, “We must have the right people in the right roles so they can perform at their best and the company can continue to succeed.”
The cuts are not linked to Qualcomm’s AI strategy, according to sources cited by Investing.com. The company has not disclosed the total number of affected employees or the departments targeted.
Qualcomm Reports 26% Decline in Handset Revenue
Qualcomm’s workforce reductions come as its handset business faces weaker smartphone demand and rising memory costs. The company reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 handset revenue of $5.14 billion, down 26% year over year.
Global smartphone shipments fell 20% in the September quarter to a 14-year low, according to Counterpoint Research data cited by Reuters. Qualcomm reported GAAP revenue of $10.32 billion, non-GAAP revenue of $10.44 billion and non-GAAP earnings per share of $2.17 for the quarter.
The company also faces changes in its relationship with Apple as the iPhone maker shifts toward its own modem chips. However, CEO Cristiano Amon pointed to signs of improvement in the Android market, telling Reuters, “We’re starting to see sequential growth now on Android.”
Qualcomm Expands Beyond Smartphones Into Automotive and AI
Qualcomm is expanding beyond smartphones into automotive technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI infrastructure to diversify its revenue. Its fourth-quarter automotive revenue reached approximately $1.99 billion, up 89% year over year, while combined automotive and IoT revenue grew 36%.
CEO Cristiano Amon highlighted the shift beyond handsets, saying Qualcomm was “really executing on the non-handset business.” In its fourth-quarter earnings announcement, he added, “Fiscal 2027 marks the start of our non-handset revenue inflection, including the ramp of our Data Center business.”
Qualcomm projected non-handset revenue growth of more than 60% in fiscal 2027 and reiterated its target of generating $5 billion in data center revenue during the year.
The expansion reflects Qualcomm’s effort to build revenue streams beyond smartphones, although the company has not directly linked its diversification strategy or handset slowdown to the workforce reductions.
