As part of a company-wide restructuring spearheaded by new CEO Lip-Bu Tan, Intel Corporation has announced a new round of layoffs that will impact 2,400 more employees, bringing the total number of job cuts to almost 4,000 nationwide.
Almost 2,400 jobs will be lost in Oregon alone, making this one of the biggest tech layoffs in Oregon’s history. The cuts will be implemented by mid-July and will affect several US states, including California, Arizona, and Texas.
Intel, a major R&D centre with more than 20,000 employees in Oregon, will lay off more than 1,500 workers at its Ronler Acres complex in Hillsboro. The action highlights the company’s changing priorities and budgetary limitations in the face of the semiconductor industry’s rapid transformation.
Intel-Oregon’s Tech Pillar
Intel has long been a mainstay of Oregon’s tech economy and the state’s largest employer in the private sector. The average annual pay for semiconductor employment in the state is $180,000, which is far more than the state median.
It is anticipated that the layoffs will have an effect on consumer spending and state tax receipts throughout the Oregon economy. CEO Lip-Bu stated that Intel was truly in the lead twenty or thirty years ago. According to reports, earlier this week, Tan informed staff, “Now… we are not in the top 10 semiconductor companies,” highlighting the need for a restructuring.
It has taken years for Intel to start declining. It has lost its position as the undisputed leader in the global semiconductor business to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), which now provides cutting-edge processors to firms like Apple and Nvidia.
Intel Failed to Capture AI Chip Market
Additionally, Nvidia, which produces the GPUs that power the majority of massive AI models and data centres, has surpassed Intel in the market for AI chips. Tan acknowledged that Intel must now shift its focus to related AI and edge computing technologies since it is “too late” to lead in AI training chips.
A significant restructuring of Intel’s core business is indicated by the company’s decision to leave the automotive chip business, outsource its marketing to Accenture, and reduce employment in the Foundry Division by 20%. Known for his experience in semiconductors and venture finance, including his work with Cadence Design Systems, Lip-Bu Tan assumed the role of CEO earlier this year.
His strategy mainly focusses on optimising processes and bringing Intel back to profitability through technological alliances and cost reductions. Intel continues to collect about $260 million in tax benefits from Oregon each year while restructuring is going on; this could come under scrutiny if future expansion plans are postponed or abandoned completely.
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