Published Nov 11, 2026 | 8:29 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 11, 2026 | 8:29 AM
The layoffs, initiated in the US and expected to spread across Qualcomm's operations worldwide, could affect 7% of the company's total workforce.
Qualcomm has started laying off employees in its India offices as part of a performance-based job-cut exercise announced in October. The first set of layoffs happened at Qualcomm’s Bengaluru office, with the exercise reportedly affecting senior engineers and employees with several years of experience.
According to Financial Express, the layoffs, initiated in the US and expected to spread across Qualcomm’s operations worldwide, could affect 7% of the company’s total workforce. With approximately 20,000 employees in India, layoffs are estimated at 1000 or a little higher.
The exercise is expected to hit employees at Qualcomm’s Research and Development and engineering facilities in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR and Chennai.
The layoffs are being undertaken as part of a performance-focused restructuring announced by CEO Cristiano Amon in October. He reportedly communicated the performance-based job cuts to employees in an internal memo. Amon said the layoffs would take place following the company’s annual employee reviews, as part of efforts to build a stronger performance culture.
Netizens have reacted to the massive layoffs, raising concerns about the lack of job security in the IT sector, even at senior levels. Some of them shared the experiences of their friends or family who got laid off.
“One of the people I know – She spent 9 years designing the chip inside your phone. She joined Qualcomm at 24. Her parents told the whole family about it. She worked on the 5G modems now inside millions of phones. She’s earning ₹70 lakh a year, has a ₹ 83000 home loan EMI, and has company stock due to vest next year that she was saving for her daughter’s school fees. Then came a memo from the CEO about a performance-focused reduction,” a user said on X.
Qualcomm did layoffs
And it’s not performance basedSad to see this, Hope they find a new job soon https://t.co/Yk0s3QiyQm
— Sushant (@icancodefy) November 10, 2026
“Qualcomm was once a dream company for many young aspirants, but now it’s laying off techies. Still remembering that Hyderabad office in Hi-Tech City those were the golden days. Now it’s time for survival; only the fittest will survive, and the rest are done and dusted in the tech industry,” said another user.
My friend got affected by Qualcomm layoffs.
You know, he got this job after taking a one-year drop to get into IIT through the GATE exam, and then spending two years pursuing his https://t.co/Qf7c89gCIV.
During his https://t.co/YSvOF5fxhn, he got a non-tech job at Sutherland. Instead of joining it, he prepared for the GATE exam and cleared it with around a 1,100 rank. He then joined IIT Hyderabad for https://t.co/Qf7c89gCIV in VLSI.
This guy studied really hard and got placed at Qualcomm through campus placements, with an 18 LPA base salary and a CTC of 26 LPA+.
Now he has been laid off.
IT is getting worse now…It looks like “Never Settle”
— Vikas Alwys (@VikasAlwys) November 10, 2026
“Mass layoffs are happening everywhere! Is the tech industry cooked?” asked another.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
