Oracle Slashes Thousands of Jobs in AI Pivot, 491 Seattle Roles Cut
Oracle Slashes Thousands of Jobs in AI Pivot, 491 Seattle Roles Cut
Oracle speeds up its AI pivot with broad layoffs, including 491 remote roles in Washington while Seattle sites stay open.
Oracle is cutting thousands of jobs as it doubles down on an AI-driven strategy, including 491 remote roles in Washington state and layoffs at its Seattle offices, while the sites themselves will remain open.
The layoffs are described as part of a 'reduction in force and other terminations,' and the company is required to give workers 60 days' notice under the WARN Act. Oracle employs about 162,000 full-time staff worldwide as of May 2025.
The cuts come as Oracle accelerates spending on AI infrastructure and aims to fund its expansion with up to $50 billion in debt and equity this year. In its fiscal 2026 plan, the company says total costs tied to restructuring could reach up to $2.1 billion, largely for severance and related expenses. Shares rose more than 5% in afternoon trading but are still down roughly 29% for the year.
Industry-wide headcount reductions are piling up across tech, with more than 70 firms cutting around 40,480 jobs so far this year. Some reports have highlighted that severance terms for Oracle’s laid-off workers may be less generous than those offered by some peers, adding to concerns about how the workforce will navigate the transition.
Oracle emphasizes that its Seattle sites will remain open as it shifts resources toward its AI initiatives. The moves illustrate how major tech companies are rebalancing talent as they invest in AI data centers and related infrastructure.
