technology
Oracle Cuts 21,000 Jobs Over Past Year as AI Spending Rises
Oracle reduced its global workforce by 21,000 employees to 141,000 as of May 31, 2026. The company cited AI adoption as a factor in the reductions and reported $1.8 billion in restructuring costs.
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Oracle cut its workforce by 21,000 positions over the past year, bringing total employment to 141,000 as of May 31, 2026, down from 162,000 the prior year. Of the remaining staff, 49,000 work full time in the United States and 92,000 are based internationally.
Engadget reported that the company attributed part of the reductions to the adoption and deployment of AI technologies, which it said have resulted and may continue to result in further workforce adjustments.
Oracle stated it maintains an existing restructuring plan and will continue to modify staffing levels. In March the company notified between 10,000 and 30,000 employees by email that their positions were ending. Oracle has spent $1.8 billion on restructuring costs, including severance payments.
The job reductions free cash for AI data-center construction. Oracle is supplying 4.5 gigawatts of U.S. data-center capacity to OpenAI under a deal reached last year. Meta separately laid off 8,000 employees and reassigned 7,000 others to AI-focused roles as part of similar industry efforts to fund AI infrastructure.
