Nokia Layoffs 2026: Up to 14,000 Roles Affected; India Employees May Be Hit Hard as Revenue Falls 15%

Once the undisputed leader of the global mobile phone industry, Nokia has transformed itself into a telecom infrastructure giant over the years. Now, the Finnish company is preparing for a major restructuring exercise that could significantly reduce its global workforce and impact operations in key markets like India.

Nokia Layoffs 2026: Up to 14,000 Jobs at Risk; Indian Employees Likely to Feel Major Impact

The company is reportedly planning to cut up to 20% of its global workforce, which currently stands at over 74,000 employees. This means nearly 14,000 jobs could be affected worldwide as per MoneyControl report. India, where Nokia employs more than 17,000 people, is also expected to see layoffs across multiple roles.

The move comes at a time when the global technology sector is undergoing a phase of correction, with several large companies cutting costs and resizing teams. Firms such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have already announced significant layoffs, while Meta is also expected to reduce its workforce.

Nokia India Business Slumps: 15% Revenue Drop Triggers Urgent Restructuring Push

A key factor behind the restructuring appears to be the company's weakening performance in India. Nokia's net sales in the country declined by 15% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2025, falling to Euro 393 million (around Rs 4,290 crore) from Euro 463 million (around Rs 5,000 crore) in the same period a year earlier.

Nokia India Leadership Revamp: Samar Mittal, Vibha Mehra Take Charge from April 1

Alongside workforce adjustments, Nokia has initiated a leadership reshuffle in India, indicating a shift in strategy. Samar Mittal has been appointed as India Country Business Leader, while Vibha Mehra will take over as India Country Manager from April 1, 2026. Former India head Tarun Chhabra has stepped down during this transition.

Under the new structure, Mittal will oversee the entire customer portfolio, suggesting a move towards tighter operational control and a more integrated approach to business management.

The planned layoffs are also linked to organisational restructuring that began earlier. Nokia's merger of its Cloud and Network Services division with Mobile Networks in 2023 reportedly led to overlapping roles across teams. The current job cuts are expected to address these redundancies and streamline operations globally.

Previous Job Cuts in Nokia

Nokia's workforce has been steadily declining over the years. From around 103,000 employees in 2018, the number has dropped to just over 74,000 today. India has seen a relatively smaller reduction during this period, but the latest developments suggest that the pace of cuts could now increase.

The restructuring is not limited to India. Reports indicate that Nokia is also planning job cuts in Europe, including countries such as Greece, Italy, Germany and France.

At the same time, its telecom rival Ericsson has also been reducing its workforce, having already laid off around 5,000 employees last year.

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