Oracle Cuts 21,000 Jobs Globally Amid AI Business Reshaping
Quick Look
- Oracle has reduced its global workforce by approximately 21,000 employees over the past year, as revealed in its annual report.
- The cuts are part of a strategic shift towards artificial intelligence (AI) and significant investments in AI infrastructure.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
US technology giant Oracle has reduced its global workforce by approximately 21,000 employees over the past year as it reshapes its business around artificial intelligence (AI). This is part of a broader trend in the tech industry investing heavily in AI.
US technology giant Oracle shed about 21,000 roles globally in the last year as it reshapes its business around artificial intelligence (AI), its latest annual report shows.
The software and cloud computing firm says it had around 141,000 full-time employees as of 31 May 2026, down from about 162,000 workers at the same time last year.
The "deployment of AI technologies across our operations have resulted, and may continue to result, in reductions to our workforce," the report says.
The cuts are part of a wider trend among tech firms as they spend hundreds of billions of dollars on adopting AI and building infrastructure like data centres.
Amazon and Facebook-owner Meta have cut thousands of job in recent months as they invest heavily in AI.
More than 100,000 people at tech workers have been laid off in the past year, according to estimates from employment tracking firms.
Oracle made "significant" job cuts in April, according to senior employees posting online, but the full extent of the layoffs had not been revealed until its annual report was filed.
The firm said the cuts have led to about $1.8bn (£1.36bn) in severance payments and other restructuring costs in the past year.
The sum is significantly higher than the $374m restructuring bill in the previous financial year.
Oracle said that its restructuring efforts "can be disruptive". It warned that the reorganisation may lead to a shortage in skilled workers in certain roles, resulting in a loss of productivity that could impact its earnings.
Oracle has been in a race to roll out data centres for AI giants like OpenAI and Meta.
The BBC previously reported that Oracle planned to spend at least $50bn on infrastructure this year.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Oracle's AI infrastructure investments may lead to future revenue growth.
Likely · Medium term
Open Questions
- Will Oracle's AI infrastructure race impact its earnings?
- What specific roles were most affected by the layoffs?






