Samsung Plans Mass Job Cuts Outside Korea

Samsung plans to slash up to 30% of its workforce outside of its home market in South Korea. According to media reports, the cuts would be implemented by the end of the year.

The company would cull its workforce across the Americas, Europe, parts of Asia, and Africa. It will target roles in sales and marketing, along with administrative staff. One of the sources said Samsung had already offered severance packages to some mid-level employees at its India operation and some had departed in recent weeks. At this stage, it is unclear which other international subsidiaries would be hit and which business units would be most affected.

Samsung said that workforce adjustments at overseas operations are routine, adding there are no specific targets for the plans. The move will also not impact production staff, the company added.

In a sustainability report published in 2023, Samsung stated it employed around 147,000 people overseas, which included 25,100 sales and marketing staff and 27,800 in roles away from manufacturing and development. The vendor’s most recent results showed revenue growth, with positive forecasts for its mobile division towards the end of the year.