Intel’s Global Workforce Cutbacks Threaten Hundreds of Jobs in Ireland Amid Strategic Restructuring
Intel is set to announce plans to cut over 20% of its global workforce in a sweeping effort to streamline operations and refocus the company around its engineering core. The restructuring move, which could impact more than 20,000 employees worldwide, is expected to significantly affect staff at its Irish facility in Leixlip, County Kildare, where around 5,000 people are employed.
The company, long regarded as a cornerstone of Ireland’s tech industry since its establishment there in 1989, has poured over €30 billion into its Leixlip operations. Despite the scale of this investment, Intel has yet to clarify how its Irish workforce will be impacted by the cuts, though it is understood that roles in administration and support services are particularly at risk.
This move follows years of mounting pressure on Intel, as the firm battles intensifying competition from rivals such as AMD and Nvidia, especially in areas like artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Intel’s new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan — a former head of Cadence Design Systems — is leading the overhaul, which includes eliminating bureaucracy, selling non-core assets, and refocusing on advanced chip development.
A key focus is the company’s advanced semiconductor technologies, such as the 18A chip. While speculation had suggested the Leixlip plant would lead high-volume production of this technology, Intel recently stated that a new facility in Arizona would take that role for now. Still, the Leixlip Fab 34 site retains the technical capability to produce the chips in future, preserving a strategic foothold in Europe.
This marks Intel’s second major round of layoffs in less than a year, following a reduction of 15,000 roles in 2024. At year-end, Intel’s global headcount had already fallen from 124,800 to 108,900.
The restructuring is a make-or-break moment for the worried chipmaker as it seeks to reverse declining sales and regain technological leadership — all while balancing global operations and retaining key talent in critical markets like Ireland.
