Oracle laid off 21,000 employees over the past year, citing AI as one of the reasons

Oracle reduced its workforce by 21,000 employees over the past year, decreasing total staff from 162,000 to 141,000. The company attributes these layoffs to AI adoption, automation, and costly AI infrastructure ambitions. These cuts occurred during fiscal year 2026 as AI cloud expansions reshape spending strategies. Oracle indicated that further layoffs will continue as internal AI deployment grows, reflecting a strategic shift in workforce management to accommodate evolving technological requirements and the company's broader AI infrastructure goals.