Qualcomm Plans Job Cuts and Still Has Not Said How Many

Qualcomm will cut jobs worldwide in what chief executive Cristiano Amon called a performance-focused reduction, according to a Monday staff memo reviewed by Reuters and reported by CNBC on October 20. Notices are scheduled to begin in November. The memo did not say how many jobs would go. Qualcomm had about 52,000 employees globally as of September 2025, most of them full time.

Amon said the review is meant to build a stronger performance culture and match skills to a business expanding beyond phones. The report tied this year's pressure to weaker consumer-electronics sales and high memory prices. It named no countries, U.S. offices, or teams, and Qualcomm had not immediately commented. A smaller workforce could reduce Qualcomm's costs, but the memo announced no change in chip prices for phone makers or shoppers.

Does this memo set a number of U.S. layoffs? No. It describes a global, review-based cut and November notifications, without a headcount or a U.S. share.