Share

Intel to slash up to 12 000 jobs in restructuring

San Francisco - Intel will cut up to 12 000 jobs worldwide as it seeks to shake up its business to reduce dependence on the slumping personal computer market, the US tech giant said this week.

Known as the leading PC chip-maker, Intel has in recent years been looking to shift to mobile and emerging technologies such as health care, wearables and other connected devices.

The restructuring will eliminate about 11% of the Intel workforce by mid-2017 and aims to "accelerate evolution from a PC company to one that powers the cloud and billions of smart, connected computing devices," the California group said in a statement.

"It is not a surprise," NPD analyst Stephen Baker said of the swingeing job cuts at the California chip titan, which was founded in 1968.

"For everybody who has made their bed in old tech, trying to lie in it is pretty uncomfortable right now."

Intel shares fell more than two percent in after-hours trade on the news to $30.90.

"Our results over the last year demonstrate a strategy that is working and a solid foundation for growth," said chief executive Brian Krzanich.

"The opportunity now is to accelerate this momentum and build on our strengths."

Intel made the announcement as it reported a modest three percent rise in first-quarter profit to $2.0 billion, with revenues growing seven percent to $13.7 billion.

"Our first-quarter results tell the story of Intel's ongoing strategic transformation, which is progressing well and will accelerate in 2016," Krzanich said.

Intel will be increasing investments in key growth areas, which include the range of smart home and other connected devices known as the "Internet of Things," as well as its data centers and computer memory operation.

Krzanich has spoken frequently about the shift in computing, and laid out his vision more than a year ago, telling the Consumer Electronics Show that the industry would be "unleashed" by wearables.

"So computing becomes unwired, and everything becomes smart and connected," he said at the time.

Intel said the job cuts will come from "a combination of voluntary and involuntary departures," and a re-evaluation of its global operations.

Intel will set aside $1.2 billion to cover the costs of the job reductions, and expects the program to save $750 million this year and $1.4 billion by mid-2017.

The company said chief financial officer Stacy Smith would "transition to a new role leading sales, manufacturing and operations once his successor is in place."

PC passe

Sales of personal computers slid for the sixth consecutive quarter at the start of 2016, falling to levels not seen since 2007, market trackers reported last week.

Analysts are also anticipating a relatively weak environment for PC sales during the first half of this year because businesses are still testing switching to machines powered by the latest Windows 10 software.

And the consumer market remains cobbled by volatility in stocks, commodities and currencies, International Data Corporation (IDC) said.

New households are not adopting PCs like they used to, especially in emerging markets, where smartphones are often preferred for online access, Gartner analysts said.

However, analysts expect to see some rebound in PC sales later this year as part of a "Windows 10 refresh" movement.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.93
+0.0%
Rand - Pound
23.89
+0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.39
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.33
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
+0.0%
Platinum
908.05
+1.2%
Palladium
1,014.94
+1.3%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders