Our Bureau
Bengaluru
Oracle, the US tech giant, has laid off hundreds of workers worldwide, with its Cerner healthcare unit hit hardest. Tight budgets are the main reason, as the company faces rising costs after buying Cerner for $28.3 billion in 2022.
In India, Oracle employs over 30,000 people in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Noida, Mumbai, and Kolkata. About 12,000 of Oracle India employees have been laid off with possible more job cuts likely in future.
The Cerner unit, which makes electronic health records, is the hardest hit globally. Oracle has also stopped raises and promotions for these staff. Problems with a US Veterans Affairs project added to the pressure.
India’s tech hubs feel the pain as Oracle shifts focus. The firm recently inked a big deal with OpenAI and joined the $500 billion Stargate AI project with SoftBank. These moves boost AI growth but strain finances, as spending outpaced earnings last fiscal year.
Experts link some cuts to US policies under President Donald Trump, which curb offshoring and H-1B visas. Oracle’s India operations, key for global work, now face more changes.
For Indian tech workers, this spells worry. Oracle leaders say it’s restructuring for efficiency. But with tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta also trimming staff for AI costs, India’s job market looks tough.
