Finnish telecom major Nokia is preparing for a significant workforce reduction as part of a global restructuring strategy. The company is expected to cut up to 14,000 roles worldwide, which could amount to nearly 20 per cent of its total employee base of over 74,000.
India, where Nokia employs more than 17,000 people, is likely to see the impact of these changes. The restructuring comes at a time when several global technology firms have already undertaken large-scale layoffs, reflecting broader industry pressures.
The move follows a decline in Nokia’s business performance in India. The company reported a 15 per cent year-on-year drop in net sales for the fourth quarter of 2025, with revenues falling to 393 million euros from 463 million euros in the same period the previous year. This downturn has added urgency to its restructuring efforts.
Job cuts in India are likely to span multiple functions, particularly roles that overlap following the earlier integration of network and cloud businesses. The restructuring aims to eliminate duplication and improve efficiency.
Over the longer term, Nokia’s workforce has been steadily shrinking, declining from around 1,03,000 employees in 2018 to about 74,000 today. Similar cost-cutting measures are also being seen across the telecom sector, with rival Ericsson also undertaking workforce reductions in recent years.
