Qualcomm job cuts: Company says, “as part of a normal course of business, …”

Chipmaker Qualcomm announced plans to lay off 226 employees at its San Diego facilities, effective November 12, according to a California WARN notice published this week. The layoffs will impact workers across 16 locations in San Diego, including the company's headquarters.
The San Diego Union-Tribune first reported on the layoffs.
The announcement comes less than a year after Qualcomm cut over 1,250 jobs in 2023.The company, known for producing smartphone chips, has not specified which departments will be affected by the latest round of layoffs.
Qualcomm spokesperson Kristin Stiles stated, "As part of a normal course of business, we prioritise and align our investments, resources, and talent to ensure we are optimally positioned to take advantage of the unprecedented diversification opportunities in front of us," to TechCrunch.
Despite the job cuts, Qualcomm reported strong financial performance in 2023, with annual revenue of $35.8 billion. CEO Cristiano Amon received $23.5 million in total executive compensation during the same period.
The company's decision to reduce its workforce comes amid ongoing challenges in the tech industry, including market volatility and increased competition. Qualcomm has been working to diversify its product portfolio beyond smartphone chips, exploring opportunities in automotive and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.
While Qualcomm declined to provide specifics on which teams would be impacted, the layoffs affect multiple facilities with various specialisations, including cybersecurity operations at the company's headquarters.