Qualcomm Cuts Jobs in India as Part of Global Performance-Driven Restructuring

Cuts Reported Across Bengaluru and Hyderabad

U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm has begun reducing its workforce in India, with analysts estimating that roughly 1,000 roles could be eliminated in the country. The company has not publicly confirmed the Indian figure, nor has it disclosed how many positions will go across its worldwide operations.

Anonymous posts on Reddit’s Qualcomm community point to separations in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, with some notifications reportedly issued on November 11. Those accounts could not be independently verified.

A Performance-Focused Exercise

The restructuring was first outlined in an internal memo that Chief Executive Cristiano Amon sent to staff on October 19. He framed the move as a “performance-focused reduction” that followed the company’s yearly employee evaluations, saying it was meant to build a stronger performance culture and to address people who had persistently missed expectations. According to the memo, the roles affected would depend on business priorities, organisational needs and the skills required.

Pareekh Jain, chief executive of EIIRTrend, an IT industry analyst, told reporters that the cuts seemed to reach across several levels of seniority and were not necessarily limited to weak performers. Reports also say that some employees who received notice claimed they had not been given earlier performance feedback. Severance reportedly amounts to three months’ salary depending on tenure, with an extra month offered to those who sign relieving documents within three days.

Size of the Indian Workforce

India is among Qualcomm’s most important locations. Its 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report put the country at 36% of a global workforce of 50,257, or about 18,100 people. Qualcomm’s annual filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, submitted on November 4, reported about 57,000 staff worldwide as of September 27, 2026. The company runs engineering, research and sales operations in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Noida, and maintains offices in Mumbai and the National Capital Region.

Background: A Softer Financial Picture

The job reductions come as Qualcomm’s financial results have softened. Revenue for fiscal 2026 reached $43.12 billion, a 3% decline from the previous year. Fourth-quarter revenue dropped 8% to $10.32 billion, and non-GAAP net income fell 15% to $11.31 billion. GAAP net income rose to $13.63 billion, though that increase was largely attributed to a significant tax benefit. Guidance for future revenue also came in below market forecasts, which analysts linked to muted demand for smartphone processors.

Legal Questions and What Next

Alagunambi Welkin, president of the Union of IT and ITES Employees (UNITE), has questioned whether Qualcomm obtained the government approvals that may be required for retrenchments. He pointed to the 100-worker threshold under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, and said prior permission could be mandatory for certain establishments in Tamil Nadu. The Industrial Relations Code, 2020, which took effect nationwide on November 21, 2025, has changed the threshold rules.

Qualcomm has not responded to queries about when notifications began, which business units are involved, or the severance terms. Reports suggest a further round of cuts could follow in January, which would extend the restructuring beyond the initial phase.