Oracle Corporation has reportedly begun a fresh round of layoffs in mid-September 2026, just months after revealing that its global workforce shrank by approximately 21,000 employees (about 13%) during the fiscal year that ended May 31, 2026.
The company employed around 141,000 full-time workers at the end of FY2026, down from roughly 162,000 a year earlier. The latest cuts come as Oracle continues to pour billions into AI infrastructure and data centres while seeking to control costs and improve efficiency.
What We Know About the Latest Layoffs
According to reports circulating on Business Insider, LinkedIn, Reddit and Blind, the new wave of job cuts is understood to have started on Monday, September 15, 2026. Impacted employees have begun receiving notifications and posts confirming the reductions have appeared on internal and external channels.
Oracle had previously signalled additional restructuring. In a recent regulatory filing, the company increased the expected costs of its "2026 Restructuring Plan" by approximately $700 million, bringing the total projected expense to about $2.8 billion. Most of these costs relate to employee severance and exit-related expenses.
The company has not publicly detailed the exact number of positions affected in this latest round. Earlier internal planning documents suggested double-digit percentage reductions on some teams.
Context: The 21,000-Job Reduction in FY2026
Oracle's annual report confirmed the sharp drop in headcount:
- May 31, 2025: ~162,000 employees
- May 31, 2026: ~141,000 employees
- Net reduction: ~21,000 jobs (13%)
Of these, roughly 9,000 cuts occurred in the United States and 12,000 internationally. Restructuring expenses related to the earlier cuts reached about $1.84 billion in severance and other exit costs.
Oracle has openly linked part of the workforce reductions to artificial intelligence. In its filings the company stated that "the adoption and deployment of AI technologies across our operations have resulted, and may continue to result, in reductions to our workforce."
Why Oracle Is Cutting Jobs
Oracle is making one of the largest bets in the industry on AI cloud infrastructure. The company is building massive data-centre capacity to serve high-demand customers and has taken on significant debt to fund the expansion.
At the same time, management is pursuing "simplification and efficiency actions" to protect margins and free up cash. Layoffs have affected multiple areas in previous rounds, including research and development, sales and marketing, cloud services and administrative functions, while AI and core cloud infrastructure teams have been relatively protected.
The broader tech industry has seen widespread job reductions as companies reallocate resources toward AI development and infrastructure.
Impact on Indian Professionals and NRI Community
Oracle is a major employer of Indian tech professionals both in the United States and in India. Successive rounds of layoffs have a direct impact on:
- H-1B holders — losing employment triggers a 60-day grace period to secure a new sponsor, change status or depart the country.
- Green-card applicants — I-140 portability rules matter here; layoffs mid-PERM can restart parts of the process.
- India-based Oracle employees — cost-optimisation and AI-linked reductions have historically included offshore roles in Hyderabad, Bangalore and other Indian delivery centres.
- Contract and vendor staff — often the first to be reduced during restructuring cycles.
Affected Indian tech workers on H-1B should consult a qualified immigration attorney immediately upon receiving notice, and consider active job-market channels such as employer-referral programmes, tech-diaspora networks, and companies actively hiring in adjacent cloud and AI areas.
Impact and Outlook
The successive rounds of layoffs highlight the difficult transition many large technology firms are navigating: heavy capital spending on AI infrastructure combined with pressure to keep operating costs under control.
For remaining employees, the ongoing restructuring can create uncertainty. Oracle has acknowledged in past filings that such reorganisations can be disruptive, potentially affecting productivity, institutional knowledge and morale.
Oracle has not issued a detailed public statement on the precise scale or timing of the September 2026 cuts at the time of writing. An official spokesperson did not immediately respond to media inquiries.
Key Takeaways
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| FY2026 Workforce Reduction | ~21,000 jobs (13%) |
| Headcount (May 31, 2026) | ~141,000 |
| Previous Headcount (May 31, 2025) | ~162,000 |
| New Restructuring Cost Increase | +$700 million (total plan ~$2.8 billion) |
| Main Driver | AI infrastructure investment + cost control |
| Latest Action | New round of layoffs beginning mid-September 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people has Oracle laid off in FY2026?
Based on Oracle's own annual filings, net headcount fell by approximately 21,000 (13%) between May 2025 and May 2026, from about 162,000 to 141,000 employees.
Are more Oracle layoffs expected?
Oracle has increased its 2026 Restructuring Plan cost estimate to around $2.8 billion, suggesting additional workforce actions are likely as the AI-infrastructure transition continues.
Are Indian offshore centres affected?
Historically Oracle's cost-optimisation cycles have affected both US and offshore roles. The company has not published a country-by-country breakdown of the September 2026 round.
What should H-1B holders do if they are laid off?
H-1B holders typically have a 60-day grace period to secure a new sponsor, change status or depart. Consulting a qualified immigration attorney immediately is strongly recommended.
Is this related to AI adoption at Oracle?
In its regulatory filings Oracle has explicitly noted that AI adoption and deployment across its operations "have resulted, and may continue to result, in reductions to our workforce."
Related NRI Globe Coverage
As Oracle continues its aggressive push into AI cloud services, further adjustments to its workforce remain possible. The company maintains that these changes are necessary to ensure it has the right resources focused on delivering cloud and AI products to customers worldwide.
Disclaimer: NRI Globe provides journalism and general information only. Employment, immigration and financial decisions should be made in consultation with qualified professionals. Details of the September 2026 layoff round are based on publicly reported information and may be updated as Oracle issues official statements.