Type
Internal restructuring
Country
World
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Sector
Information / Communication
Information Communication Services
Telecommunications
61.2 - Wireless telecommunications activities

4,500 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
22 July 2015
Employment effect (start)
22 July 2015
Foreseen end date
31 December 2016

Description

The chipmaker for the smartphone industry, Qualcomm, has announced an extensive restructuring programme, which includes plans to reduce its workforce by more than 4500 workers worldwide by the end of 2016. The company also plans to shift activity to lower-cost countries.

The announcement comes in response to falling revenues and a drop in the company’s net income by 47 per cent year on year, and a slowdown in the demand for chips. Qualcomm is reportedly under pressure from an activist investor.

The planned cuts will affect 15 per cent of Qualcomm’s global workforce of 31,000. Qualcomm suggested that the reduction, which will affect both full-time and temporary workers, would result in a reduction of annual costs of $1.1 billion. The cuts are to affect all parts of the company and It has not yet been publicised which locations will be affected. 

Qualcomm has over 200 offices across 40 countries, including in Europe, notably Ireland and the UK.


Sources

  • 22 July 2015: Financial Times
  • 22 July 2015: Fortune
  • 22 July 2015: CNN Money
  • 23 July 2015: The Washington Post

Citation

Eurofound (2015), Qualcomm, Internal restructuring in World, factsheet number 84657, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/84657.