US-based semiconductor giant Qualcomm has begun a fresh round of layoffs in India, putting around 1,000 to 1,500 jobs at risk as part of a broader global restructuring exercise. The job cuts have triggered concerns among employees, particularly those working in engineering and research divisions, as the company reassesses its workforce and business priorities.
The layoffs reportedly began at Qualcomm’s Bengaluru facility on November 9, with the exercise expected to extend to other locations in the country. The latest reports suggest that approximately 1,500 employees could be affected, although earlier estimates placed the number at more than 1,000. Qualcomm has not officially confirmed the total number of job losses.
The company has a significant presence in India, employing thousands of professionals across its engineering, research and development operations. Its major centres are located in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Delhi-NCR. These facilities support Qualcomm’s global semiconductor development activities, including wireless technologies, chip design and software engineering.
The reported workforce reduction is particularly significant because India serves as one of Qualcomm’s important engineering hubs outside the United States. The restructuring could affect employees across several technical divisions, including radio frequency, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and satellite navigation technologies.
Alongside the job cuts, the severance package being offered to affected employees has become a major talking point. According to reports, Qualcomm is providing financial compensation based on employees’ salaries and years of service. The reported package includes two months’ notice pay and an additional month’s salary for every completed year of service.
Employees are also reportedly eligible for compensation linked to their vested restricted stock units (RSUs), including shares scheduled to vest shortly. The November stock vesting tranche is also understood to be part of the reported arrangements.
Other benefits include leave encashment, the December bonus and gratuity for employees who have completed the required five years of service. The company is also reportedly extending health insurance coverage for one year after separation.
Earlier reports indicated that employees who completed their separation formalities within three days were offered an additional month’s salary as an incentive for an early exit. The company is also said to be providing placement assistance through a recruitment firm to help affected employees find alternative employment.
However, the exact compensation may differ depending on individual employment terms, tenure and eligibility. Qualcomm has not publicly confirmed the complete details of the reported severance arrangements.
In an internal communication to employees, Amon described the workforce changes as part of an effort to strengthen the company’s performance culture and improve organisational efficiency. He indicated that the decisions would take into account individual performance, business requirements and the skills needed to support future growth.
The restructuring comes as Qualcomm reassesses its operations amid changing conditions in the global semiconductor industry. While the company continues to invest in emerging technologies, its traditional smartphone chip business is facing pressure from weaker demand and changes in the consumer electronics market.
Qualcomm has been working to reduce its dependence on smartphone processors by expanding into automotive semiconductors, artificial intelligence, connected devices and data-centre technologies.
The layoffs come against the backdrop of challenges in Qualcomm’s handset business. The company reported a decline in revenue from its smartphone-related operations during the September quarter, reflecting continued pressure on the global smartphone market.
Rising memory chip prices have increased manufacturing costs for smartphone companies, while higher device prices could affect consumer demand. These developments have created uncertainty across the semiconductor supply chain.
Qualcomm’s exposure to the smartphone market makes these changes particularly important. The company supplies processors, connectivity solutions and other semiconductor components to several leading smartphone manufacturers.
The decline in handset-related revenue has increased the importance of diversifying its business into other technology segments.
However, not all divisions are experiencing similar pressure. Qualcomm’s automotive business has emerged as an important growth driver, supported by increasing demand for advanced driver assistance systems, connected vehicles and digital cockpit technologies.
The company is expanding its semiconductor capabilities to address growing demand for AI computing, energy-efficient processors and advanced connectivity solutions. Its collaboration with Amazon on AI data-centre products is part of this broader push.
Qualcomm is also targeting higher revenue from businesses outside smartphones as it seeks to build a more diversified earnings base.
India remains important to these plans. Its engineering teams contribute to semiconductor design, wireless technologies, artificial intelligence optimisation and advanced chip development.
The company’s Indian engineering centres have also been involved in developing advanced semiconductor designs, highlighting the technical expertise available within the country.
As Qualcomm reshapes its global workforce, its India operations are likely to remain under close attention, given their importance to the company’s semiconductor research and development activities.