LISTEN: Intel Email Signals Deep Factory Job Cuts

The Oregonian reported that chipmaker Intel plans to lay off up to 20% of its factory workforce, citing an internal email the publication says was verified by four employees. According to the report, Intel informed its employees that the cuts would begin taking effect in July and would impact factories worldwide.Intel reportedly employed about 109,000 workers at the end of 2024, but it remains unclear how many work in Intel Foundry, the company’s factory division. The unit’s roles range from factory floor technicians to specialized researchers. Intel eliminated approximately 15,000 jobs last year through attrition, buyouts, early retirement offers and layoffs. However, according to The Oregonian, Chief Technology and Operations Officer Naga Chandrasekaran stated in the email that this round of job cuts will involve eliminating specific roles and levels, assessing skills for remaining positions and “some hard decisions around our project investments.”