Oracle has initiated a large-scale workforce reduction, laying off approximately 30,000 employees worldwide, including about 12,000 in India.
The layoffs are part of a global restructuring as the company reallocates resources to artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure.
Employees were notified of their termination via early morning emails, with immediate effect. Severance packages and additional benefits have been offered, but only to those who resign voluntarily and amicably.
According to Financial Express, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison stated that AI models are now responsible for writing much of the company’s code, reducing the need for traditional software engineers.
Ellison explained that teams now describe desired outcomes to AI, which generates the necessary logic and implementation, allowing Oracle to operate with smaller development teams and lower costs.
As reported by The Indian Express, the layoffs have affected senior leadership, including Sharat Chander, a 16-year veteran and former Head of Developer Community Engagement.
Chander confirmed his termination on social media, expressing gratitude for his tenure and stating, “Well, my #Java journey has come to an end. Today my role at Oracle has been terminated.”
Coverage revealed that the job cuts in India represent nearly half of Oracle’s local workforce.
The restructuring is part of a broader industry trend, with technology companies worldwide reducing traditional roles while investing heavily in AI and cloud computing. Severance packages reportedly include salary payouts based on years of service, notice pay, and other statutory benefits.
In addition, reporting indicated that another round of layoffs is expected within a month. Employees in India were informed that their positions had become redundant due to organisational changes.
Severance terms include 15 days’ salary for each year of service, one month of unpaid wages, leave encashment, gratuity, and a two-month salary top-up for those who resign voluntarily.
“After careful consideration of Oracle's current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role as part of a broader organisational change. As a result, today is your last working day,” the company’s layoff email stated.
As highlighted by The Hindu, Oracle has not commented publicly on the layoffs. Impacted employees confirmed that the severance package is only available to those who resign voluntarily.
The company’s India workforce was estimated at 30,000 before the layoffs, and the global headcount stood at 162,000 as of May 2025.
In addition, analysis showed that Oracle’s restructuring is driven by the need to fund AI data centres and expand cloud infrastructure. The company expects restructuring costs to reach up to $2.1 billion, primarily for severance and related expenses.
“The code that Oracle is writing, Oracle isn’t writing. Our AI models are writing,” Larry Ellison stated, underscoring the company’s shift to AI-driven development.
The company’s focus on AI and cloud infrastructure is expected to continue, with further workforce adjustments possible in the near future.
Note: This article is produced using AI-assisted tools and is based on publicly available information. It has been reviewed by The Quint's editorial team before publishing.